Description
Product Characteristics: Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1) is a well-characterized cytosolic scavenger of oxygen free radicals that requires copper and zinc binding to potentiate its enzymatic activity. Enzymatically, SOD-1 facilitates the dismutation of oxygen radicals to hydrogen peroxide and also catalyzes pro-oxidant reactions, which include the peroxidase activity and hydroxyl radical generating activity. SOD-1 is ubiquitously expressed in somatic cells and functions as a homodimer. Defects in the gene encoding SOD-1 have been implicated in the progression of neurological diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of spinal motor neurons, Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. In familial ALS, several mutations in SOD-1 predominate, resulting in the loss of zinc binding, the loss of scavenging activity of SOD-1, and correlate with an increase in neurotoxicity and motor neuron death.
Target Information: The protein encoded by this gene binds copper and zinc ions and is one of two isozymes responsible for destroying free superoxide radicals in the body. The encoded isozyme is a soluble cytoplasmic protein, acting as a homodimer to convert naturally-occuring but harmful superoxide radicals to molecular oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. The other isozyme is a mitochondrial protein. Mutations in this gene have been implicated as causes of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Rare transcript variants have been reported for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]