Antioxidant Enzyme System (Superoxide Dismutase, Catalase, and Peroxidase) (SOD/CAT/PRX)

Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase, and Peroxidases (such as Glutathione Peroxidase) constitute the primary enzymatic defense triad responsible for maintaining cellular redox homeostasis in aerobic organisms [PubMed: 22216315]. SOD catalyzes the conversion of highly reactive superoxide radicals into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide, which are subsequently neutralized by Catalase or various Peroxidases into water and molecular oxygen [UniProt: P00441, P04040, P07203]. This coordinated enzymatic pathway is essential for protecting proteins, lipids, and DNA from oxidative damage, and its dysregulation is a hallmark of pathologies such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), atherosclerosis, and chronic inflammatory conditions [PubMed: 30132338]. Therapeutic strategies involving this system focus on the administration of recombinant enzymes or the development of small-molecule mimetics (e.g., ebselen or Mn-porphyrins) designed to supplement endogenous antioxidant capacity during periods of high oxidative stress [PubChem: CID 3194, PMC: 2824518]. While high therapeutic potential exists for treating ischemia-reperfusion injury and neurodegeneration, challenges include achieving targeted delivery and avoiding the disruption of physiological ROS signaling required for normal cellular function [DrugBank: DB00084].

Other names

Reactive oxygen species scavenging systemAntioxidant defense enzymesEnzymatic antioxidantsSOD-CAT-GPx triadOxidoreductase system

These agents act by enzymatically or chemically catalyzing the dismutation of superoxide radicals into hydrogen peroxide (Superoxide Dismutase activity) and the subsequent reduction of hydrogen peroxide or organic hydroperoxides into water and oxygen (Catalase and Peroxidase activity), thereby preventing oxidative damage to cellular components [PubMed: 22216315, UniProt: P00441].