Beta-oxidation in peroxisomes of brown adipose tissue

Abstract

Peroxisomes and mitochondria from brown adipose tissue of the rat were separated by differential pelleting and isopycnic gradient centrifugation. Both fractions oxidized palmitoyl-CoA with comparable specific activities. Unlike the mitochondrial beta-oxidation the peroxisomal activity was not influenced by carbon monoxide. Peroxisomal beta-oxidation together with carnitine acetyl-transferase, which is also located in peroxisomes, might be involved in chemical thermogenesis by delivering acetyl groups to the mitochondria.