Information About

Superoxide Dismutase





REACTION

A typical reaction of an SOD protein containing copper (and zinc) looks like this:
  • Cu2+-SOD + O2- → Cu1+-SOD + O2

  • Cu1+-SOD + O2- + 2H+ → Cu2+-SOD + H2O2.


In this reaction the oxidation state of the copper changes between +1 and +2.


TYPES


General

Several common forms of SOD exist: they are proteins cofactored with Copper and Zinc , or Manganese , or Iron .
  • The 1SXA , EC 1.15.1.1). The Cu-Zn enzyme is a homodimer of molecular weight 32,500. The two subunits are joined primarily by hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions.

  • Chicken liver (and nearly all other) 1ABM , EC 1.15.1.1).

  • ''E. coli'' and many other bacteria also contain a form of the enzyme with 1ISA , EC 1.15.1.1).



Human

In humans, three forms of superoxide dismutase are present. SOD1 is located in the Cytoplasm , SOD2 in the Mitochondria and SOD3 is Extracellular . The first is a Dimer (consists of two units), while the others are tetramers (four subunits). SOD1 and SOD3 contain copper and zinc, while SOD2 has Manganese in its reactive centre. The Gene s are located on chromosomes 21, 6 and 4, respectively (21q22.1, 6q25.3 and 4p15.3-p15.1).

A microtiter plate assay for SOD is available.


PHYSIOLOGY

The superoxide anion radical (O2-) spontaneously dismutes to O2 and H2O2 quite rapidly. However, SOD has the fastest Turnover Number (reaction rate with its substrate) of any known enzyme. In fact, its rate is Diffusion -limited. Thus, under real-world intracellular conditions, SOD greatly reduces the ambient level of the dangerous superoxide radical.

The presence of SOD has been shown to help protect many types of cells from the Free Radical damage that is important in Aging , Senescence , and Ischemic Tissue Damage . SOD also helps protect cells from DNA Damage , Lipid Peroxidation , Ionizing Radiation damage, Protein Denaturation , and many other forms of progressive cell degradation.


ROLE IN DISEASE

Mutations in the first SOD enzyme (SOD1) have been linked to familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, a form of Motor Neuron Disease ). The other two types have not been linked to any human diseases, however, in mice inactivation of SOD2 causes perinatal lethality and inactivation of SOD1 causes hepatocellular carcinoma.


COSMETIC USES


SOD is used in cosmetic products to reduce free radical damage to skin, for example to reduce fibrosis following radiation for breast cancer.


REFERENCES

  Author AV Peskin, CC Winterbourn
  Title A microtiter plate assay for superoxide dismutase using a water-soluble tetrazolium salt (WST-1)
  Journal Clinica Chimica Acta
  Year 2000
  Volume 293
  Pages 157–166


  First F last = Campana
  Title Topical superoxide dismutase reduces post-irradiation breast cancer fibrosis
  Journal J Cell Mol Med
  Year 2004
  Volume 8
  Issue 1
  Pages 109–116




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