title: Overproduction of human Mn-superoxide dismutase modulates paraquat-mediated toxicity in mammalian cells.
abstract: Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is a nuclear encoded mitochondrial matrix enzyme that functions to scavenge superoxide radicals. The human MnSOD cDNA under the transcriptional control of a human beta-actin promoter was introduced into mouse C3H10T1/2 cells by cotransfection with a recombinant plasmid containing the NeoR selectable marker. C3H10T1/2 transformants (C3H-SOD) were obtained that expressed high levels of authentic enzymatically active human MnSOD. Overexpression of the MnSOD gene did not affect the protein levels of CuZnSOD, catalase (CAT), or glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in the transformants. Treatment of cells with paraquat was less toxic to the C3H-SOD cells than to the control cells. These results are consistent with the possibility that superoxide radicals are mediators of paraquat cytotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27103.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: St Clair
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Oberley
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D010269:Paraquat / Q000633:toxicity*; D010957:Plasmids; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D010269:Paraquat