title: Highly reactive oxygen species: detection, formation, and possible functions.
abstract: The so-called reactive oxygen species (ROS) are defined as oxygen-containing species that are more reactive than O(2) itself, which include hydrogen peroxide and superoxide. Although these are quite stable, they may be converted in the presence of transition metal ions, such as Fe(II), to the highly reactive oxygen species (hROS). hROS may exist as free hydroxyl radicals (HO·), as bound ("crypto") radicals or as Fe(IV)-oxo (ferryl) species and the somewhat less reactive, non-radical species, singlet oxygen. This review outlines the processes by which hROS may be formed, their damaging potential, and the evidence that they might have signaling functions. Since our understanding of the formation and actions of hROS depends on reliable procedures for their detection, particular attention is given to procedures for hROS detection and quantitation and their applicability to in vivo studies.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Applied Synthetic Chemistry, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/163-AC, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Wolfhardt
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Freinbichler
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Colivicchi
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanini
authors.forename: Loria
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ballini
authors.forename: Bashkim
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Misini
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weinberger
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Linert
authors.forename: Damir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Varešlija
authors.forename: Keith F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Tipton
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Della Corte
mesh_terms: D005609:Free Radicals; D007501:Iron; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D026082:Singlet Oxygen; D028561:Transition Elements / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D028561:Transition Elements; D026082:Singlet Oxygen; D007501:Iron