Crystal structures of holo and Cu‐deficient Cu/Zn‐SOD from the silkworm Bombyx mori and the implications in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract

Cu/Zn superoxide dismutases (Cu/Zn-SODs) are a large family of cytosolic antioxidant proteins involved in responses to oxidative stress.1 They catalyze the disproportionation of superoxide radicals into less toxic hydrogen peroxide and dioxygen via cyclic reduction and reoxidation of its bound copper ion as shown below.2 SOD CuðIIÞ þ O2 ! SOD CuðIÞ þ O2 SOD CuðIÞ þO2 þ 2Hþ ! SOD CuðIIÞ þH2O2