Superoxide Dismutase Mechanisms and Applications

Superoxide dismutases (SODs) constitute a family of metalloenzymes that catalyse the dismutation of the superoxide anion into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide, thereby forming a primary defence against oxidative stress in almost all aerobic organisms. Three major isoforms—copper–zinc SOD in the cytosol, manganese SOD in mitochondria, and extracellular copper–zinc SOD—exhibit distinct structural motifs and metal cofactors that confer specificity for subcellular compartments. Mechanistically, the redox cycling of the metal centre alternates between oxidised and reduced states to neutralise reactive oxygen species (ROS), protecting proteins, lipids and nucleic acids from radical-mediated damage. Beyond their fundamental role in cellular homeostasis, SODs have emerged as therapeutic targets and biotechnological tools. In medicine, recombinant and mimetic SOD derivatives are under investigation for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, ischemia–reperfusion injury and inflammatory disorders. In agriculture and aquaculture, modulation of endogenous SOD expression enhances stress tolerance and growth under adverse environmental conditions. Industrial applications exploit thermostable and acid-stable variants for incorporation into nutraceuticals, cosmetics and food additives. Recent advances in protein engineering and expression systems have improved catalytic efficiency, stability and yield, facilitating large-scale production. Collectively, the breadth of SOD research spans structural biology, enzymology, gene regulation and applied biotechnology, underscoring its global significance in health, environment and industry.

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Superoxide Dismutase Mechanisms and Applications publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in superoxide dismutase mechanisms and applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Partially reduced oxygen derivatives that can oxidise and damage cellular components if not neutralised.

Superoxide anion: A one-electron reduced form of molecular oxygen (O2•–) generated during mitochondrial respiration and enzymatic reactions.

Metalloenzyme: An enzyme requiring a tightly bound metal ion cofactor for its catalytic mechanism.

Isozyme: Distinct enzyme variants that catalyse the same reaction but differ in amino acid sequence, regulation or subcellular localisation.

References

1. Characterization of a Novel Superoxide Dismutase from a Deep-sea Sea Cucumber (Psychoropotes verruciaudatus). Antioxidants (2023).
2. Enhancing the Productivity and Stability of Superoxide Dismutase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae TBRC657 and Its Application as a Free Radical Scavenger. Fermentation (2022).
3. Thermoacidophilic Alicyclobacillus Superoxide Dismutase: Good Candidate as Additives in Food and Medicine. Frontiers in Microbiology (2021).