SUPEROXIDE RADICALS, SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASES and OXYGEN TOXICITY IN PLANTS

Haim D. Rabinowitch, Irwin Fridovich*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

198 Scopus citations

Abstract

Abstract In plants, as in other aerobic organisms, O2 is a commonly encountered intermediate of oxygen reduction and superoxide dismutases provide a defense against the potential cytotoxicity of this radical. The superoxide dismutases found in plants resemble those encountered in other organisms. Within chloroplasts one finds the CuZn enzyme, while mitochondria contain the Mn enzyme. Nymphaceae, ginkoaceae and cruciferae are unusual among plants, indeed among eukaryotes, in that they contain an iron superoxide dismutase. Bipyridylium herbicides, such as paraquat, exert their effect by diverting electron flow from photosystem I and thus increasing 02– production. Paraquat‐resistant genotypes of horseweed, tobacco and rye grass were found to contain elevated superoxide dismutase. This enzyme also appears to provide a defense against sulfur dioxide, sunscald and photooxidative death. The evidence supporting these statements and possible explanations are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)679-690
Number of pages12
JournalPhotochemistry and Photobiology
Volume37
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1983

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