SOD3
Description
The SOD3 (superoxide dismutase 3) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 4.
SOD3, the gene encoding extracellular superoxide dismutase [Cu-Zn], plays a crucial role in antioxidant defense. This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of superoxide radicals into hydrogen peroxide and oxygen, protecting various tissues like the brain and lungs from oxidative stress. SOD3 is secreted into the extracellular space and forms a homotetramer, a complex of four identical protein subunits. It interacts with the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell surfaces through heparan sulfate proteoglycan and collagen. A portion of SOD3 is cleaved near its C-terminus, generating circulating tetramers that don't interact with the ECM. Interestingly, in black garden ants (Lasius niger), SOD3 is significantly overexpressed in queen ants compared to worker ants, potentially contributing to the queens' remarkably longer lifespan.
SOD3 protects the extracellular space from damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), specifically superoxide radicals, by converting them into hydrogen peroxide and oxygen.
SOD3 is also known as EC-SOD.
Associated Diseases
- lung cancer
- osteoarthritis
- cancer
- type 1 diabetes mellitus
- chondrocalcinosis 2
- breast cancer
- dermatitis
- Duane retraction syndrome
