Microbody

Microbodies are a class of single-membrane-bound organelles found in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. The term "microbody" is a somewhat outdated term, generally replaced by more specific terms like peroxisome and glyoxysome, which describe the specific function and enzymatic content of the organelle.

Microbodies are characterized by their relatively small size (typically 0.2-1.5 μm in diameter) and their involvement in various metabolic processes, including the oxidation of specific substrates. They often contain crystalline or paracrystalline cores composed of enzymes.

The specific functions of a microbody are dependent on the cell type in which it is found. They are prominent in liver and kidney cells of animals, where they participate in the detoxification of harmful substances, the beta-oxidation of fatty acids, and the synthesis of plasmalogens (a type of phospholipid). In plant cells, microbodies are involved in photorespiration (in peroxisomes of leaves) and the conversion of stored fats to carbohydrates (in glyoxysomes of seeds).

Although the term microbody is less commonly used now, it serves as a general descriptor for organelles with similar morphology and a primarily oxidative metabolic role, highlighting their evolutionary and functional relationships.