Metabolic pathways in mammalian peroxisomes

This article summarizes our current knowledge of the metabolic pathways present in mammalian peroxisomes. Emphasis is placed on those aspects that are not covered by other articles in this issue: peroxisomal enzyme content and topology; the peroxisomal β-oxidation system; substrates of peroxisomal β-oxidation such as very-long-chain fatty acids, branched fatty acids, dicarboxylic fatty acids, prostaglandins and xenobiotics; the role of peroxisomes in the metabolism of purines, polyamines, amino acids, glyoxylate and reactive oxygen products such as hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anions and epoxides.