Dual role of plasma membrane electron transport systems in defense.
Because oxidative stress is one of the main sources of severe cellular damage, cells have different defense weapons against reactive oxygen species. Ubiquitous plasma membrane redox systems play a role in defense against oxidative stress damage. On the other hand, a tightly controlled and localized production of reactive oxygen species by a plasma membrane NADPH oxidase can be used as a potent microbicidal weapon. This dual, prooxidant and antioxidant role of plasma membrane electron transport systems in defense is studied and discussed.
del Castillo-Olivares
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Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298-0614, USA.
Núñez de Castro
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Medina
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MA
D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000473:pathology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004579:Electron Transport; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006105:Granulomatous Disease, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins