title: Quantitative redox biology: an approach to understand the role of reactive species in defining the cellular redox environment.
abstract: Systems biology is now recognized as a needed approach to understand the dynamics of inter- and intra-cellular processes. Redox processes are at the foundation of nearly all aspects of biology. Free radicals, related oxidants, and antioxidants are central to the basic functioning of cells and tissues. They set the cellular redox environment and, therefore, are the key to regulation of biochemical pathways and networks, thereby influencing organism health. To understand how short-lived, quasi-stable species, such as superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide, connect to the metabolome, proteome, lipidome, and genome we need absolute quantitative information on all redox active compounds as well as thermodynamic and kinetic information on their reactions, i.e., knowledge of the complete redoxome. Central to the state of the redoxome are the interactive details of the superoxide/peroxide formation and removal systems. Quantitative information is essential to establish the dynamic mathematical models needed to reveal the temporal evolution of biochemical pathways and networks. This new field of Quantitative Redox Biology will allow researchers to identify new targets for intervention to advance our efforts to achieve optimal human health.
authors.affiliation: Free Radical and Radiation Biology & ESR Facility, Med Labs B180, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242-1181, USA, garry-buettner@uiowa.edu.
authors.forename: Garry R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Buettner
authors.forename: Brett A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Victor G J
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Rodgers
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D018675:Toxicity Tests
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species