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Fundamental Aspects of Reactive Oxygen Species, or What's the Matter with Oxygen?
Author(s) -
FRIDOVICH IRWIN
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1999.tb07814.x
Subject(s) - reactive oxygen species , chemistry , superoxide dismutase , oxygen , nucleic acid , biochemistry , peroxidase , enzyme , oxidative stress , superoxide , reactive intermediate , macromolecule , metabolism , catalysis , organic chemistry
A byproduct of normal aerobic metabolism is the generation of dangerously reactive intermediates of the reduction of O 2 . These include O 2 − , H 2 O 2 , and HO · and arise because of the predisposition of O 2 for univalent reductions. These reactive oxygen species (ROS), and others that they can engender, threaten all cellular macromolecules, and defenses are needed. Among those known to date are: superoxide dismutases to convert O 2 − into O 2 + H 2 O 2 ; catalases to dismute H 2 O 2 into O 2 + H 2 O; and peroxidases to reduce H 2 O 2 into 2H 2 O) and to reduce ROOH into ROH and H 2 O. These defenses are aided by enzymes that repair or recycle oxidatively damaged nucleic acids and proteins. A role for such oxidative damage in aging and neurodegenerative diseases is well supported.