The Biology of Oxygen Radicals

The reactive superoxide radical, O2-, formerly of concern only to radiation chemists and radiobiologists, is now understood to be a normal product of the biological reduction of molecular oxygen.

Abstract

The reactive superoxide radical, O2-, formerly of concern only to radiation chemists and radiobiologists, is now understood to be a normal product of the biological reduction of molecular oxygen. An unusual family of enzymes, the superoxide dismutases, protect against the deleterious actions of this radical by catalyzing its dismutation to hydrogen peroxide plus oxygen.