Oxidative Damage to Proteins

Abstract

Protein oxidation in vivo is a natural consequence of aerobic life. Oxygen radicals and other reactive oxygen species that are generated as by-products of cellular metabolism or from environmental sources, cause modifications to amino acids of proteins. These generally result in loss of protein function and/or enzymatic activity. Living in an oxygenated environment has required the evolution of effective cellular strategies to detect and detoxify metabolites of molecular oxygen known as reactive oxygen species (ROS). The appropriate and inappropriate production of oxidants, together with the ability of organisms to respond to oxidative stress, is intricately connected to aging and life span.