Oxygen Radicals- Shiemke Flashcards
(45 cards)
why is oxygen not spontaneously reduced to water?
2 electrons have the same spin in O2, need to flip the spin of one of them, which is very slow
what catalyzes an electron spin flip in oxygen?
oxygenases and oxidases
what is conservation of spin?
total spin of reactants must equal the total spin of the products
how many electrons are required to fully reduce oxygen?
4
what happens when less the 4 electrons reduce oxygen?
formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)
O2 + 1e = ?
superoxide radical
O2 + 2e = ?
hydrogen peroxide
O2 + 3e = ?
hydroxyl radical and water
how are ROS removed?
antioxidant defense systems
what causes diseases involving ROS?
too much ROS formation
too little ROS removal
what is the main source of ROS?
complex I of ETC (maybe III)
anywhere electron pairs are split, forming a radical that can react with oxygen to produce an oxygen radical
what shifts the ETC into a more reduced state?
increased NADH/NAD or decreased O2
forces reducing equivalents to be around longer, giving more time to split into radicals
why is hypoxia thought to be worse than anoxia?
hypoxia still has low levels of O2, so ETC is still working, just very slowly, so reducing equivalents are still being made
anoxia has no O2, so reducing equivalents are stuck reduced, no ROS are made
what role do phagocytes play in ROS production?
inflammation increases amount and action of phagocytes
phagocytes leak ROS and damage surroundings
what role do peroxisomes play in ROS production?
oxidize long chain fatty acids and some reducing equivalents go to O2 which forms hydrogen peroxide
characteristics of ROS reactions?
- products and reactants are radicals
- oxidation via radicals is faster
- releases a lot of energy
what is unique about ROS?
no spin restriction
what is the most damaging ROS? why?
hydroxyl radical largest driving force for oxidation no defenses against it initiate radical chain reactions immediately reacts with almost any organic compound
what is the radical theory of aging?
chronic radical production over time produces damage that can’t be fixed due to overwhelming of antioxidant systems
balance between energy towards repair and reproduction determines lifespan (humans have more repair- live longer than insects that reproduce more)
what is the evidence supporting the radical theory of aging?
- increased oxidative damage with age
- loss of antioxidant enzymes shortens life
- over expression of antioxidants lengthens life
- caloric restriction increases lifespan (prevents reduction of ETC) ONLY in rats, not primates
evidence against radical theory of aging?
loss of antioxidants does not affect lifespan
increase in superoxides extends lifespan
what is an alternative theory of aging?
caloric restriction- keeps mTOR (regulates calorie distribution) low
low mTOR induces more autophagy to conserve available proteins- broken/old ones are broken down
what are the 3 antioxidant enzyme systems?
superoxide dismutase (SOD)
glutathione peroxidase
catalase
what does superoxide dismutase (SOD) do?
removes superoxide anions
2 superoxides + 2 H –>H2O2 + O2 (hydrogen peroxide is less dangerous than superoxide)
