ABSTRACT
This enzyme generates, together with other components such as cytochrome b558 and several GTP-binding proteins, reactive
oxygen metabolites
. This multicomponent enzyme forms an electron-transport chain, using NADPH as a donor to reduce oxygen to
superoxide anion
(O
), which is then dismuted to
hydrogen peroxide
(H
O
), and thereafter metabolized to hydroxyl radicals (OH
). Defective cytochrome b558 results in a disease with severe infections (X-linked chronic granulomatous disease).
