The NADPH oxidase of ‘professional’ phagocytic cells transfers electrons across the wall of the phagocytic vacuole, forming superoxide in the lumen. It is generally accepted that this system promotes microbial killing through the generation of reactive oxygen species and through the activity of myeloperoxidase. An alternative scenario exists in which the passage of electrons across the membrane alters the pH and generates a charge that drives ions into, and out of, the vacuole. It is proposed that the primary function of the oxidase is to produce these pH changes and ion fluxes, and the issues surrounding these processes are considered in this review. The neutrophil oxidase is the prototype of a whole family of NOXs (NAPDH oxidases) that exist throughout biology, from plants to humans, which might function, at least in part, in a similar fashion.
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November 2007
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Conference Article|
October 25 2007
The function of the NADPH oxidase of phagocytes, and its relationship to other NOXs
P. Behe;
P. Behe
1Centre for Molecular Medicine, University College London, 5 University Street, London WC1E 6JJ, U.K.
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A.W. Segal
A.W. Segal
1
1Centre for Molecular Medicine, University College London, 5 University Street, London WC1E 6JJ, U.K.
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (email t.segal@ucl.ac.uk).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
June 12 2007
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2007 Biochemical Society
2007
Biochem Soc Trans (2007) 35 (5): 1100–1103.
Article history
Received:
June 12 2007
Citation
P. Behe, A.W. Segal; The function of the NADPH oxidase of phagocytes, and its relationship to other NOXs. Biochem Soc Trans 1 November 2007; 35 (5): 1100–1103. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0351100
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