ABSTRACT
T H E STRUCTURE A N D MECHANISM OF CuIZn-SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE
CuIZn-superoxide dismutases (SOD'S) are members of a broad class of metalloenzymes, characterized by the property of undergoing a redox cycle with 0;. In such a cycle (where Me is either copper, manganese or iron, and n is the formal oxidation state):
k , and k, re usually comparable and much higher than ks of any other redox reaction, such as with 0, or H,O,.' Therefore the net result of this type of reaction is 0; dismutation into 0, and H,O,.
