Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Confocal Imaging of Single Mitochondrial Superoxide Flashes in Intact Heart or In Vivo
Published on: November 5, 2013
Reversal of the superoxide dismutase reaction revisited
Stefan I Liochev1, Irwin Fridovich
1Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Abstract:
Reversal of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) reaction was measured in terms of the reduction of tetranitromethane (TNM) by O2-. Cu,ZnSOD caused a biphasic reduction of TNM by H2O2. The rapid initial phase was stoichiometric with the enzyme and was followed by a slower catalytic phase that was oxygen dependent and was augmented by HCO3-. The reaction scheme explaining this behavior is presented and a rate constant for the reduction of O2 by the cuprous enzyme is estimated. This rate constant is so low that it precludes significant O2- production by the reduced enzyme under the conditions explored.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Redox Reactions
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide
Oxidation of Alkenes: Anti Dihydroxylation with Peroxy Acids
Oxidation of Phenols to Quinones
o-hydroxy phenols are oxidized to o-quinones and p-hydroxy phenols to p-quinones. Such redox reactions involve the transfer of two electrons and two protons. The reversible redox property is crucial in...
Electron Transport Chain: Complex III and IV
Redox Reactions

