Indentification of β‐oxidation enzymes among peroxisomal polypeptides

Peroxisomes contain enzymes catalyzing the β‐oxidation of fatty acids, which have been purified and partially characterized. Hypolipidemic drugs, including clofibrate, cause a marked proliferation of peroxisomes and a striking increase in the activity of their β‐oxidation system. We have compared by sodium dodecyl sulfate—polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the polypeptide patterns of normal and clofibrate‐induced peroxisomes and the purified β‐oxidation enzymes. The data allow a tentative identification of the β‐oxidation enzymes among the peroxisomal polypeptides; these enzymes constitute only a small part of the protein of normal peroxisomes. A subset of peroxisomal polypeptides, including the β‐oxidation enzymes, is preferentially increased by clofibrate.