Biological Chemistry of Reactive Oxygen Species

Abstract

Living organisms are continually exposed to free radicals and other reactive oxygen species as a result of metabolizing oxygen and other redox‐active compounds. Excessive production can result in biological damage, whereas in other situation, specific oxidants are generated as a host defense mechanism or as a cell signal that activates gene expression and metabolic responses. This article provides an overview of the specific reactive oxygen species that are generated biologically, how and where they arise, and their chemical reactivity with biological molecules.

Oxygen-Dependent Accumulation of Purine DNA Lesions in Cockayne Syndrome Cells

“…Among ROS, the hydroxyl radical (HO • ) is the most reactive species (cf. Appendix A Figure A2 ) [ 27 , 28 , 29 ]. Purine 5′,8-cyclo-2′-deoxynucleosides (short name: 5′,8-cyclopurine; acronym: cPu) are well recognized products of nucleic acid damage [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ].…”

5′,8-Cyclopurine Lesions in DNA Damage: Chemical, Analytical, Biological, and Diagnostic Significance

“…Since the start of life on Earth, the human body has lived in an oxidative atmosphere due to the presence of molecular oxygen (dioxygen in its ground triplet state), which plays an immense role in biological processes [1,2]. Each individual consumes ca.…”

“…3.5 kg of molecular oxygen every day and 2.8% of it is utilized to generate free radicals. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) are two classes of enzymes that control the production of superoxide radical anions (O 2 •– ) and induce the formation of nitric oxide ( • NO) [2]. These two radicals are the progenitors of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS).…”

Model peptide for anti-sigma factor domain HHCC zinc fingers: high reactivity toward 1O2 leads to domain unfolding

“…Organisms living in an aerobic environment have to cope with the deleterious effects of oxidative stress, which is caused by a family of molecules produced from dioxygen in the living cell, the so-called Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) 1. ROS are classified into two categories according to their production pathways: Type I for those arising from electron(s) addition to O 2 ( e.g.…”