Glucose as a Major Antioxidant: When, What for and Why It Fails?

Abstract

A human organism depends on stable glucose blood levels in order to maintain its metabolic needs. Glucose is considered to be the most important energy source, and glycolysis is postulated as a backbone pathway. However, when the glucose supply is limited, ketone bodies and amino acids can be used to produce enough ATP. In contrast, for the functioning of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) glucose is essential and cannot be substituted by other metabolites. The PPP generates and maintains the levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) needed for the reduction in oxidized glutathione and protein thiols, the synthesis of lipids and DNA as well as for xenobiotic detoxification, regulatory redox signaling and counteracting infections. The flux of glucose into a PPP—particularly under extreme oxidative and toxic challenges—is critical for survival, whereas the glycolytic pathway is primarily activated when glucose is abundant, and there is lack of NADP+ that is required for the activation of glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase. An important role of glycogen stores in resistance to oxidative challenges is discussed. Current evidences explain the disruptive metabolic effects and detrimental health consequences of chronic nutritional carbohydrate overload, and provide new insights into the positive metabolic effects of intermittent fasting, caloric restriction, exercise, and ketogenic diet through modulation of redox homeostasis.

Linkage between Carbon Metabolism, Redox Status and Cellular Physiology in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Devoid of SOD1 or SOD2 Gene

“…It is worth noting that recent studies identified the existence and importance of NADPH oxidase 1 (Yno1p) also in yeast cells [9,12]. Maintenance of redox balance requires efficient reducing processes in which, besides proper glutathione level, a balance between pyridine nucleotide pairs plays a significant role [2,[13][14][15]. The NAD + /NADH couple is primarily responsible for oxidation reactions and has an impact on the level of catabolic reactions in the cell.…”

Influence of Nonthermal Atmospheric Plasma-Activated Water on the Structural, Optical, and Biological Properties of Aspergillus brasiliensis Spores

“…Generally, nonenzymatic antioxidants such as carotenoids, polysaccharides, chitosan, polyphenol, polyols, mannitol, glucose, and vitamins in fungi have oxygen radical scavenging effects [49][50][51][52]. It was well known that glucose and mannose exist in the cell wall of A. brasiliensis spores [53].…”

“…Both the PAW and the direct plasma treatments against A. brasiliensis spores revealed that they have a remarkable effect on the viability of the spores, as seen in Figure 4a. The PAW treatment clearly Generally, nonenzymatic antioxidants such as carotenoids, polysaccharides, chitosan, polyphenol, polyols, mannitol, glucose, and vitamins in fungi have oxygen radical scavenging effects [49][50][51][52]. It was well known that glucose and mannose exist in the cell wall of A. brasiliensis spores [53].…”

H2S Donors Reverse Age-Related Gastric Malfunction Impaired Due to Fructose-Induced Injury via CBS, CSE, and TST Expression

“…The World Health Organization defined relation between excess fructose consumption and accelerated aging, which could be a factor for multi-morbidity and has numerous harmful effects (Lyons et al, 2016;Bektas et al, 2018;Miller et al, 2018). Oxidative stress is one of their molecular mechanisms for cellular survival, as well as damage, and accelerated aging that could be the result of the decline of integrated defensive molecular mechanisms (Franceschi et al, 2018a;Franceschi et al, 2018b;Cherkas et al, 2020). Therefore, to search for a novel physiologically based therapeutic strategy that enhances the natural mechanisms of cytoprotection and reverses the influence of aging and high fructose injury is the actual topic in modern pharmacology JL Engevik, 2018).…”