Biochemical mechanisms accounting for the toxic action of oxygen on living organisms: the key role of superoxide dismutase

Abstract

It seems that superoxide dismutase plays the key role in protecting aerobes against O2 toxicity, but there is a whole range of ancillary mechanisms: enzymes to remove H2O2 (catalase, peroxidases) and hence to control formation of .OH from O2, which requires H2O2; antioxidants (ascorbate, GSH, alpha-tocopherol, carotenoids), which also react with singlet oxygen and/or .OH and often inhibit lipid peroxidation and last, but not least in animals, glutathione peroxidase, which controls the rate of lipid peroxidation. These mechanisms cope well at normal O2 concentrations but are insufficient at higher levels.