Superoxide radicals are produced in trace amounts by the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Most are removed rapidly by superoxide dismutase in the matrix. Superoxide is also known to react with glutathione. Reported values of the rate constant for this reaction range from 102 to in excess of 105 M−1·s−1. The magnitude of this rate constant has important physiological implications because, if it is at the upper end of the reported range, a significant proportion of mitochondrial superoxide will evade removal by superoxide dismutase, and will oxidize glutathione to the potentially harmful glutathionyl radical. Using EPR spectroscopy to monitor competition between glutathione and the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide for reaction with superoxide, we have estimated that the rate constant for the reaction between superoxide and glutathione is only ~200 M−1·s−1. Hence superoxide dismutase will always out-compete glutathione for reaction with the superoxide radical, thereby preventing formation of the glutathionyl radical.
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December 2003
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Conference Article|
December 01 2003
Kinetics of superoxide scavenging by glutathione: an evaluation of its role in the removal of mitochondrial superoxide
C.M. Jones;
C.M. Jones
1
Gray Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 100, Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, Middx HA6 2JR, U.K.
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (e-mail jones@gci.ac.uk).
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A. Lawrence;
A. Lawrence
Gray Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 100, Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, Middx HA6 2JR, U.K.
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P. Wardman;
P. Wardman
Gray Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 100, Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, Middx HA6 2JR, U.K.
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M.J. Burkitt
M.J. Burkitt
Gray Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 100, Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, Middx HA6 2JR, U.K.
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© 2003 Biochemical Society
2003
Biochem Soc Trans (2003) 31 (6): 1337–1339.
Citation
C.M. Jones, A. Lawrence, P. Wardman, M.J. Burkitt; Kinetics of superoxide scavenging by glutathione: an evaluation of its role in the removal of mitochondrial superoxide. Biochem Soc Trans 1 December 2003; 31 (6): 1337–1339. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bst0311337
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