Abstract
The univalent reduction of molecular oxygen to superoxide is the facile pathway for oxygen reduction because of the spin restriction facing its divalent reduction by pairs of spin-opposed electrons. The reactivity of superoxide, and of its conjugate acid the hydroperoxyl radical, threatens aerobic life. Defenses are essential and these are provided by superoxide dismutases (SODs) that efficiently catalyze the conversion of superoxide into oxygen plus hydrogen peroxide. Several SODs are known. These include the Cu,ZnSODs, MnSODs, FeSODs, and NiSODS. An adequate defense against the toxicity of oxygen must also include enzymes that scavenge H2O2, such as the catalases and peroxidases, as well as enzymes that allow repair of that damage that does occur despite the protective actions of the defensive enzymes.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Fridovich, I. (2016). Superoxide and the Superoxide Dismutases: An Introduction by Irwin Fridovich. In: Batinić-Haberle, I., Rebouças, J., Spasojević, I. (eds) Redox-Active Therapeutics. Oxidative Stress in Applied Basic Research and Clinical Practice. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30705-3_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30705-3_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-30703-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-30705-3
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)