Discovery of superoxide reductase: an historical perspective

For more than 30 years, the only enzymatic system known to catalyze the elimination of superoxide was superoxide dismutase, SOD. SOD has been found in almost all organisms living in the presence of oxygen, including some anaerobic bacteria, supporting the notion that superoxide is a key and general component of oxidative stress. Recently, a new concept in the field of the mechanisms of cellular defense against superoxide has emerged. It was discovered that elimination of superoxide in some anaerobic and microaerophilic bacteria could occur by reduction, a reaction catalyzed by a small metalloenzyme thus named superoxide reductase, SOR. Having played a major role in this discovery, we describe here how the concept of superoxide reduction emerged and how it was experimentally substantiated independently in our laboratory.Abbreviations Dfx desulfoferrodoxin - SOD superoxide dismutase - SOR superoxide reductase     

木脂素类化合物的SOD活性研究

超氧化物歧化酶,是生物体内对超氧阴离子自由基(O_2~-)的最有效的清除剂,但由于SOD分子量大,体内代谢速度快,作为外源性药物有其不足之处。从中草药中寻找具SOD活性的有效成分,更好发掘天然药物的研究。从地血香分离出四种联苯环烯木脂素类化合物,进行了SOD活性研究。实验证明四种化合物的SOD活性不同,分别测定了它们对O_2~-的清除率和抑制率。     

Generation of superoxide radicals in alkaline solutions of hydrogen peroxide and the effect of superoxide dismutase on this system

Superoxide radicals in high concentrations were generated from alkaline H₂O₂ without using catalysts or irradiation. The dependence of the intensity and parameters of the superoxide radical EPR spectrum on pH, temperature, viscosity and H₂O₂ concentration were studied. The observed changes are explained on the base of matrix effects. The addition of superoxide dismutase to alkaline H₂O₂ led initially to a drop in the EPR spectrum intensity, followed by an increase in the concentration of superoxide radicals.     

An investigation of Cu2Zn2 superoxide dismutase and its Ile-137 mutant at high pH

The activity profile of the CU₂Zn₂HSOD Ile-137 mutant has a pK_a of 9.6, i. e. one unit lower than the wild type (WT). This property has allowed us to investigate the inactive high pH form of the enzyme before denaturation occurs. The electronic and EPR spectra do not change with the above pK_a. The ¹H NMR spectrum of the CU₂CO₂-analog reveals slight decreases in the hyperfine shifts of the protons of His-48 at high pH, which are consistent with a water molecule becoming closer to the copper ion, as detected through water ¹H T ₁ ^–1 NMR measurements. The affinity of azide at high pH is lower than at low pH, though still sizeable. The WT follows the same pattern up to pH pK_a. It appears that the drop in activity is not related to any major change involving the metal coordination sphere, but is related to changes in the electrostatic potential due to the deprotonation process. Offprint requests to: I. Bertini     

超氧化物歧化酶在氧自由基所引起的癌变中的作用

超氧化物歧化酶是一类抗氧化酶,它能催化超氧阴离子自由基的歧化反应,对机体起保护作用。氧自由基在某些情况下会对机体产生损伤作用。文章就氧自由基的产生、氧自由基与致癌的关系,以及超氧化物歧化酶在氧自由基所引起的癌变中的作用等方面进行了综述。     

Manganese complexes displaying superoxide dismutase activity: a balance between different factors

Superoxide radicals are one of the most toxic reactive oxygen species and its damaging effects lead to a variety of detrimental health conditions including cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders and other types of age-related diseases. Following Nature example, chemists have designed manganese complexes that mimic the protecting action of the superoxide dismutases (SOD), metalloenzymes that catalyze the conversion of superoxide radical to the less toxic oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. This review provides an overview of the different SOD mimic manganese complexes developed mainly over the last decade, with particular attention to those factors that could be playing a crucial role in determining their activity.     

植物中的多酚物质对超氧物自由基的清除作用

芒果、番石榴、松、龙眼等叶片和绿茶中含有Ｏ２（超氧物自由基）的非酶促清除剂,仅０．５—１ｍｇ鲜重或０．２９ｍｇ茶叶就相当一个ＳＯＤ酶单位作用,热处理不能降低清除Ｏ２的能力．用显示酚类物质的喷洒剂（ＡｇＮＯ３－ＮＨ４ＯＨ）和显示ＳＯＤ同工酶带的ＮＢＴ法对电泳后的凝胶分别染色处理,对比显示结果,表明酚类物质与ＳＯＤ活性物质有相似的电泳行为,叶片中的酚类物质可能为非酶促清除Ｏ２的组份．人工合成的酚类化合物（对硝基酚、间苯二酚、愈创木酚）和从植物中分离的鞣酸等,在体外均能有效地清除Ｏ２．     

In vitro reactive oxygen species production by histatins and copper(I,II)

The ability of the histidine-rich peptides, histatin-5 (Hst-5) and histatin-8 (Hst-8), to support the generation of reactive oxygen species during the Cu-catalyzed oxidation of ascorbate and cysteine has been evaluated. High levels of hydrogen peroxide (70–580 mol/mol Cu/h) are produced by aqueous solutions containing Cu(II), Hst-8 or Hst-5, and a reductant, either ascorbate or cysteine, as determined by the postreaction Amplex Red assay. When the reactions are conducted in the presence of superoxide dismutase, the total hydrogen peroxide produced is decreased, more so in the presence of the peptides (up to 50%), suggesting the intermediacy of superoxide in these reactions. On the other hand, the presence of sodium azide or sodium formate, traps for hydroxyl radicals, has no appreciable effect on the total hydrogen peroxide production for the Cu–Hst systems. EPR spin-trapping studies using 5-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propoxy cyclophosphoryl)-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (CYPMPO) in the cysteine–Cu(II) reactions reveal the formation of the CYPMPO–hydroperoxyl and CYPMPO–hydroxyl radical adducts in the presence of Hst-8, whereas only the latter was observed with Cu alone.     

Protection of Chinese hamster ovary cells from paraquat-mediated cytotoxicity by a low molecular weight mimic of superoxide dismutase (DF-Mn)

Paraquat exerts a cytotoxic effect of Chinese hamster ovary cells in culture via the superoxide radical (O₂⁻. We have described a superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimic based on manganese (DF-Mn) which consists of a one-to-one complex between desferrioxamine B (Desferal) and MnO₂. It is a small molecular weight molecule, easy to prepare and possesses considerable stability. It is now shown to protect mammalian cells from paraquat toxicity. Thus, 20 μM DF-Mn affords up to complete protection against the cytotoxicity of 200 μM paraquat in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Desferrioxamine B or MnO₂ alone gave no protection. MnCl₂ or catalase provided little or no protection against the paraquat, respectively. Equivalent amounts of human Cu-Zn SOD in terms of activity, also provided no protection. Copper diisopropylsalicylate (CuDIPS) provided limited, yet significant, protection, but this is explained in terms other than SOD activity. Finally, at higher concentrations, purified human SOD, exerts a limited toxicity as well as a protective ability against paraquat (similar to DF-Mn) both of which are eliminated upon heat denaturation of the enzyme. It appears that the SOD mimic, DF-Mn, can enter mammalian cells and can protect against the cytotoxic effects of O₂⁻.     

The Isolation and Fractionation of Chicken Egg White Ovomucin

Three fractions of chicken egg white ovomucin were obtained from ovomucin precipitated by the classical method of dilution of egg white with water. The first fraction was obtained by dilute salt extraction of the precipitated ovomucin and consisted of smaller components of ovomucin. The second fraction was obtained by extraction with 1 M KCl of the precipitate remaining after dilute salt extraction and consisted of a heterogeneous mixture of components of larger mass. The third fraction, the ovomucin remaining after concentrated salt extraction, was insoluble.

The two soluble fractions were found to be unstable with time (pH 8, μ 0.2). The rate of breakdown was slower in concentrated salt solution. The final breakdown product(s) for both fractions appeared to be a 6 S component (s) of molecular mass 1.5 × 10⁵ daltons.