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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Simultaneous Measurement of Superoxide/Hydrogen Peroxide and NADH Production by Flavin-containing Mitochondrial Dehydrogenases

Simultaneous Measurement of Superoxide/Hydrogen Peroxide and NADH Production by Flavin-containing Mitochondrial Dehydrogenases

Published on: February 24, 2018

Diversity, function and evolution of genes coding for putative Ni-containing superoxide dismutases.

C L Dupont¹, K Neupane, J Shearer

¹Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92039, USA.

Environmental Microbiology

|April 17, 2008

Summary

The sodN gene, coding for nickel-containing superoxide dismutase (Ni-SOD), is widespread across diverse organisms via horizontal gene transfer. Its presence may indicate an evolutionary adaptation to low-iron environments, replacing iron-dependent SOD.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Simultaneous Measurement of Superoxide/Hydrogen Peroxide and NADH Production by Flavin-containing Mitochondrial Dehydrogenases

Simultaneous Measurement of Superoxide/Hydrogen Peroxide and NADH Production by Flavin-containing Mitochondrial Dehydrogenases

Published on: February 24, 2018

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Evolutionary Biology
Genomics

Background:

The sodN gene encodes a unique nickel-containing superoxide dismutase (Ni-SOD) in Streptomyces.
Many identified sodN sequences are divergent from characterized Ni-SOD.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the phylogenetic distribution, functionality, and evolution of the sodN gene family.
To analyze divergent sodN sequences and their structural and functional properties.

Main Methods:

Structural bioinformatics analysis of sodN protein family members.
Biochemical studies of the N-terminus 'Ni-hook' motif.
Phylogenetic analysis of sodN distribution across environmental and organismal genomes.

Main Results:

Divergent sodN members share similar 3D structures and conserved residues.
The 'Ni-hook' motif confirms Ni(II) ligation and SOD activity.
Phylogenetic analysis revealed four major clusters of sodN, suggesting horizontal gene transfer across diverse Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes.
sodN presence correlates with the absence of Fe-SOD, particularly in marine environments.

Conclusions:

The sodN gene family has a broader phylogenetic distribution than previously known, acquired through horizontal gene transfer.
The replacement of Fe-SOD with Ni-SOD may be an evolutionary adaptation to low-iron environments, such as marine ecosystems.