Various redox-active biomolecules and enzymes

The term Various redox-active biomolecules and enzymes refers to a broad and non-specific category of biological entities involved in electron transfer and the maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis. This group includes a diverse array of enzymes such as superoxide dismutases, catalases, and peroxidases, as well as small molecules like glutathione and thioredoxin (Sies et al., 2017, Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology). These molecules play a dual role: they are essential for normal physiological signaling (redox signaling) but can also cause damage when reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels exceed the cell's antioxidant capacity, leading to oxidative stress (Halliwell & Gutteridge, 2015, Free Radicals in Biology and Medicine). Oxidative stress is a key driver in the progression of numerous pathologies, including neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular diseases, and various cancers. Therapeutic strategies targeting this group often involve the use of antioxidants or ROS scavengers to mitigate damage, though achieving clinical efficacy remains challenging due to the complexity of redox networks and the risk of interfering with essential signaling pathways (Murphy et al., 2011, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery). Consequently, this classification is typically used in pharmacological databases to group agents with broad antioxidant or pro-oxidant activities rather than those with a single, defined protein target.

Other names

Redox-active speciesOxidoreductasesReactive oxygen species targetsAntioxidant targetsRedox-sensitive proteins

Modulation of cellular redox state through scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS), donation of reducing equivalents, or inhibition/activation of specific oxidoreductase enzymes.