page_title: Superoxide dismutase
hierarchical_section_title: Superoxide dismutase
caption_attribution_description: Ribbon diagram of a human superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) tetramer. Manganese ions shown in violet. Created using PyMOL (http://www.pymol.org) and GIMP. Optimized using OptiPNG. Legend &#160;&#160; Manganese
context_page_description: Superoxide dismutase is an enzyme that alternately catalyzes the dismutation of the superoxide radical into ordinary molecular oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. Superoxide is produced as a by-product of oxygen metabolism and, if not regulated, causes many types of cell damage. Hydrogen peroxide is also damaging and is degraded by other enzymes such as catalase. Thus, SOD is an important antioxidant defense in nearly all living cells exposed to oxygen. One exception is Lactobacillus plantarum and related lactobacilli, which use a different mechanism to prevent damage from reactive O₂⁻.
context_section_description: Superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) is an enzyme that alternately catalyzes the dismutation (or partitioning) of the superoxide (O₂⁻) radical into ordinary molecular oxygen (O₂) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Superoxide is produced as a by-product of oxygen metabolism and, if not regulated, causes many types of cell damage. Hydrogen peroxide is also damaging and is degraded by other enzymes such as catalase. Thus, SOD is an important antioxidant defense in nearly all living cells exposed to oxygen. One exception is Lactobacillus plantarum and related lactobacilli, which use a different mechanism to prevent damage from reactive O₂⁻.
caption: Structure of a human Mn superoxide dismutase 2 tetramer.[1]
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