title: The antibody-catalyzed water oxidation pathway--a new chemical arm to immune defense?
abstract: Antibodies are the classical adaptor molecules of the immune system, linking recognition and killing of foreign pathogens. However, the recent discovery of a new property of the antibody molecule suggests a previously unexplored effector function of the immune system. All immunoglobulins, regardless of source or antigenic specificity, can catalyze the reaction between singlet (1Deltag) oxygen and water to give hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). Both the chemical and biological aspects of this pathway are being explored and intriguing new insights into how this pathway might have a role in immune defense are emerging.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nieva
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wentworth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002384:Catalysis; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D006415:Hematoporphyrins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007109:Immunity / Q000502:physiology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010126:Ozone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000502:physiology; D026082:Singlet Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D006415:Hematoporphyrins; D014867:Water; D026082:Singlet Oxygen; D010126:Ozone; D002784:Cholesterol; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide