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Journal ArticleDOI

DNA damage and oxygen radical toxicity

03 Jun 1988-Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science)-Vol. 240, Iss: 4857, pp 1302-1309
TL;DR: It is proposed that the cell may also decrease such toxicity by diminishing available NAD(P)H and by utilizing oxygen itself to scavenge active free radicals into superoxide, which is then destroyed by superoxide dismutase.
Abstract: A major portion of the toxicity of hydrogen peroxide in Escherichia coli is attributed to DNA damage mediated by a Fenton reaction that generates active forms of hydroxyl radicals from hydrogen peroxide, DNA-bound iron, and a constant source of reducing equivalents. Kinetic peculiarities of DNA damage production by hydrogen peroxide in vivo can be reproduced by including DNA in an in vitro Fenton reaction system in which iron catalyzes the univalent reduction of hydrogen peroxide by the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). To minimize the toxicity of oxygen radicals, the cell utilizes scavengers of these radicals and DNA repair enzymes. On the basis of observations with the model system, it is proposed that the cell may also decrease such toxicity by diminishing available NAD(P)H and by utilizing oxygen itself to scavenge active free radicals into superoxide, which is then destroyed by superoxide dismutase.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
04 Mar 1993-Nature
TL;DR: Tight genetic linkage between FALS and a gene that encodes a cytosolic, Cu/Zn-binding superoxide dismutase (SOD1), a homodimeric metalloenzyme that catalyzes the dismutation of the toxic superoxide anion O–2 to O2 and H2O2 is reported.
Abstract: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a degenerative disorder of motor neurons in the cortex, brainstem and spinal cord. Its cause is unknown and it is uniformly fatal, typically within five years. About 10% of cases are inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, with high penetrance after the sixth decade. In most instances, sporadic and autosomal dominant familial ALS (FALS) are clinically similar. We have previously shown that in some but not all FALS pedigrees the disease is linked to a genetic defect on chromosome 21q (refs 8, 9). Here we report tight genetic linkage between FALS and a gene that encodes a cytosolic, Cu/Zn-binding superoxide dismutase (SOD1), a homodimeric metalloenzyme that catalyzes the dismutation of the toxic superoxide anion O2.- to O2 and H2O2 (ref. 10). Given this linkage and the potential role of free radical toxicity in other neurodenegerative disorders, we investigated SOD1 as a candidate gene in FALS. We identified 11 different SOD1 missense mutations in 13 different FALS families.

6,733 citations

Book ChapterDOI
TL;DR: The chapter discusses the metabolism of transition metals, such as iron and copper, and the chelation therapy that is an approach to site-specific antioxidant protection.
Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the role of free radicals and catalytic metal ions in human disease. The importance of transition metal ions in mediating oxidant damage naturally leads to the question as to what forms of such ions might be available to catalyze radical reactions in vivo . The chapter discusses the metabolism of transition metals, such as iron and copper. It also discusses the chelation therapy that is an approach to site-specific antioxidant protection. The detection and measurement of lipid peroxidation is the evidence most frequently cited to support the involvement of free radical reactions in toxicology and in human disease. A wide range of techniques is available to measure the rate of this process, but none is applicable to all circumstances. The two most popular are the measurement of diene conjugation and the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) test, but they are both subject to pitfalls, especially when applied to human samples. The chapter also discusses the essential principles of the peroxidation process. When discussing lipid peroxidation, it is essential to use clear terminology for the sequence of events involved; an imprecise use of terms such as initiation has caused considerable confusion in the literature. In a completely peroxide-free lipid system, first chain initiation of a peroxidation sequence in a membrane or polyunsaturated fatty acid refers to the attack of any species that has sufficient reactivity to abstract a hydrogen atom from a methylene group.

5,033 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The generation, sites of production and role of ROS as messenger molecules as well as inducers of oxidative damage are described and the antioxidative defense mechanisms operating in the cells for scavenging of ROS overproduced under various stressful conditions of the environment are described.
Abstract: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced as a normal product of plant cellular metabolism. Various environmental stresses lead to excessive production of ROS causing progressive oxidative damage and ultimately cell death. Despite their destructive activity, they are well-described second messengers in a variety of cellular processes, including conferment of tolerance to various environmental stresses. Whether ROS would serve as signaling molecules or could cause oxidative damage to the tissues depends on the delicate equilibrium between ROS production, and their scavenging. Efficient scavenging of ROS produced during various environmental stresses requires the action of several nonenzymatic as well as enzymatic antioxidants present in the tissues. In this paper, we describe the generation, sites of production and role of ROS as messenger molecules as well as inducers of oxidative damage. Further, the antioxidative defense mechanisms operating in the cells for scavenging of ROS overproduced under various stressful conditions of the environment have been discussed in detail.

4,012 citations


Cites background from "DNA damage and oxygen radical toxic..."

  • ...ROS are a major source of DNA damage [102]....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The ability of plants to tolerate salt is determined by multiple biochemical pathways that facilitate retention and/or acquisition of water, protect chloroplast functions, and maintain ion homeostasis as mentioned in this paper.

3,546 citations


Cites background from "DNA damage and oxygen radical toxic..."

  • ...In addition, H2O2 may interact in the presence of certain metal ions or metal chelates to produce highly reactive OH (Imlay and Linn, 1988)....

    [...]

  • ...These cytotoxic activated oxygen species can seriously disrupt normal metabolism through oxidative damage to lipids (Fridovich, 1986; Wise and Naylor, 1987) and to protein and nucleic acids (Fridovich, 1986; Imlay and Linn, 1988)....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The nature of antioxidants is discussed, it being suggested that antioxidant enzymes and chelators of transition metal ions may be more generally useful protective agents than chain‐breaking antioxidants.
Abstract: Radicals are species containing one or more unpaired electrons. The oxygen radical superoxide (O 2 - ) and the non-radical oxidants hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) are produced during normal metabolism and perform several useful functions. Excessive production of O 2 - and H2O2 can result in tissue damage, which often involves generation of highly reactive hydroxy 1 radical (· OH) and other oxidants in the presence of “catalytic” iron or copper ions. A major form of antioxidant defence is the storage and transport of iron or copper ions in forms that will not catalyze formation of reactive radicals. Tissue injury, e. g., by ischaemia or trauma, can cause increased iron availability and accelerate free radical reactions. This may be especially important in the brain, since areas of this organ are rich in iron and cerebrospinal fluid cannot bind released iron ions. Oxidative stress upon nervous tissue can produce damage by several interacting mechanisms, including rises in intracellular free Ca2+ and, possibly, release of excitatory amino acids. Recent suggestions that free radical reactions are involved in the neurotoxicity of aluminium and in damage to the substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease are reviewed. Finally, the nature of antioxidants is discussed, with a suggestion that antioxidant enzymes and chelators of iron ions may be more generally useful protective agents than chain-breaking antioxidants. Careful precautions must be taken in the design of antioxidants for therapeutic use.

2,968 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
25 Jan 1985-Science
TL;DR: Prooxidant states can be caused by different classes of agents, including hyperbaric oxygen, radiation, xenobiotic metabolites and Fenton-type reagents, modulators of the cytochrome P-450 electron-transport chain, peroxisome proliferators, inhibitors of the antioxidant defense, and membrane-active agents.
Abstract: There is convincing evidence that cellular prooxidant states--that is, increased concentrations of active oxygen and organic peroxides and radicals--can promote initiated cells to neoplastic growth. Prooxidant states can be caused by different classes of agents, including hyperbaric oxygen, radiation, xenobiotic metabolites and Fenton-type reagents, modulators of the cytochrome P-450 electron-transport chain, peroxisome proliferators, inhibitors of the antioxidant defense, and membrane-active agents. Many of these agents are promoters or complete carcinogens. They cause chromosomal damage by indirect action, but the role of this damage in carcinogenesis remains unclear. Prooxidant states can be prevented or suppressed by the enzymes of the cellular antioxidant defense and low molecular weight scavenger molecules, and many antioxidants are antipromoters and anticarcinogens. Finally, prooxidant states may modulate the expression of a family of prooxidant genes, which are related to cell growth and differentiation, by inducing alterations in DNA structure or by epigenetic mechanisms, for example, by polyadenosine diphosphate-ribosylation of chromosomal proteins.

2,488 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Wansbrough-Jones as discussed by the authors gave the manuscript of this paper to Professor Sir William Pope, but the final revision for the press had not been made and in its original from the paper was not suitable for publication in an English journal; but since, Professor Haber had considered carefully how he wished to present the results embodied in it, the form and sequence of the paper remain unmodified.
Abstract: [ Note by Dr. O. H. Wansbrough-Jones —Shortly before Professor Haber died, he gave the manuscript of this paper to Professor Sir William Pope. The final revision for the press had not been made and in its original from the paper was not suitable for publication in an English journal. Considerable alterations in the wording have accordingly been made; but since, Professor Haber had considered carefully how he wished to present the results embodied in it, the form and sequence of the paper remain unmodified. The paper is, further, a sequel to some communications in German periodicals which may not be familiar to its readers. In an attempt to make it more quickly understandable, while keeping it as far as possible as it was left by Professor Haber, the following summary has been added.

2,318 citations