ABSTRACT
The first preparation of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZn SOD) took place over 40 years ago when Mann and Keilin 1 isolated a green copper protein from bovine erythrocytes which was subsequently named erythrocuprein. 2 Although the protein was later found to contain zinc, 3 its name remained intact until 1969 when McCord and Fridovich 4 discovered its enzymatic function and renamed it superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1.). The method developed by Mann and Keilin has been essentially preserved although refinements have been applied as new purification techniques become available.
