Characterization of Yeast Peroxisomes: Enrichment of Peroxisomal Fractions and Analysis of β-Oxidation Activity.

Subcellular fractionation approaches have allowed for the identification of various functionally distinct organelles including peroxisomes. The methods enable enrichment of organelles and combined with downstream assays allow for the identification of biochemical functions, composition, and structural characteristics of these compartments. In this chapter, we describe the methods for differential centrifugation and Nycodenz gradients in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and describe assays for fatty acid β-oxidation in intact cells and in peroxisomal fractions.