peroxisome /pər·ok′si·sōm/ , any of the microbodies present in vertebrate animal cells, especially liver and kidney cells, that are rich in the enzymes peroxidase, catalase, D-amino acid oxidase, and, to a lesser extent, urate oxidase. Their functions are not fully understood, but they participate in metabolic oxidations involving hydrogen peroxide, purine metabolism, cellular lipid metabolism, and gluconeogenesis. See microbody.
