Peroxisome

The peroxisome is a tiny organelle in the cell responsible for breaking down toxic substances. Today, it is considered the "recycling center" of the cell, as it enables the reuse of cellular waste for other purposes. The peroxisome was discovered in 1967 by physiologist Christian de Duve.

One of the rare genetic diseases caused by a malfunction in the peroxisome is X-ALD, which was featured in the 1992 film Lorenzo's Oil, based on the true story of Lorenzo Odone. Lorenzo was born a typical child but began experiencing severe tantrums around the age of five, eventually leading to the diagnosis of X-ALD. Since it was a rare disease, pharmaceutical companies showed no interest in funding research. Lorenzo’s parents spent countless hours in libraries and ultimately found a solution in the form of an oil that helped delay the damage caused by the disease.

Treating rare diseases: Dr. Einat Zalckvar cracks the peroxisome