Dynamics of peroxisome abundance: a tale of division and proliferation

Peroxisomes are highly dynamic subcellular organelles that undergo proliferation in response to a variety of environmental stimuli. The past few years have witnessed the identification and characterization of several key classes of proteins required for peroxisome division and proliferation in Arabidopsis. These include the PEROXIN11 (PEX11) family, the dynamin-related proteins (DRPs), and the FISSION1 (FIS1) proteins, some of which are shared by the division machineries of peroxisomes and other organelles. Recent studies have also uncovered a role for the photoreceptor phyA and the bZIP transcription factor HY5 homolog (HYH) in regulating light-induced peroxisome proliferation in Arabidopsis. In this review we attempt to summarize the current state of our knowledge of peroxisome division/proliferation and their regulation in plants.