Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Applied Biotechnology and Food Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Szent Gellért tér 4, H-1111 Budapest, Hungary.
Biotechnology Model Laboratory, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Szent Gellért tér 4, H-1111 Budapest, Hungary.
Int J Mol Sci. 2022 May 6;23(9):5188. doi: 10.3390/ijms23095188.
An element, iron, a process, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and a molecule, ascorbate, were chosen in our study to show their dual functions and their role in cell fate decision. Iron is a critical component of numerous proteins involved in metabolism and detoxification. On the other hand, excessive amounts of free iron in the presence of oxygen can promote the production of potentially toxic ROS. They can result in persistent oxidative stress, which in turn can lead to damage and cell death. At the same time, ROS-at strictly regulated levels-are essential to maintaining the redox homeostasis, and they are engaged in many cellular signaling pathways, so their total elimination is not expedient. Ascorbate establishes a special link between ROS generation/elimination and cell death. At low concentrations, it behaves as an excellent antioxidant and has an important role in ROS elimination. However, at high concentrations, in the presence of transition metals such as iron, it drives the generation of ROS. In the term of the dual function of these molecules and oxidative stress, ascorbate/ROS-driven cell deaths are not necessarily harmful processes-they can be live-savers too.
在我们的研究中，选择了铁元素、氧化应激、活性氧簇（ROS）生成这一过程、抗坏血酸这一分子，以展示它们的双重功能及其在细胞命运决定中的作用。铁是参与代谢和解毒的众多蛋白质的关键组成部分。另一方面，在氧气存在的情况下，过量的游离铁会促进潜在有毒 ROS 的产生。它们会导致持续的氧化应激，进而导致损伤和细胞死亡。同时，在严格调控水平的 ROS 对于维持氧化还原平衡至关重要，并且它们参与许多细胞信号通路，因此完全消除它们并不合适。抗坏血酸在 ROS 的产生/消除和细胞死亡之间建立了一种特殊的联系。在低浓度下，它表现出优异的抗氧化性能，在 ROS 消除中发挥重要作用。然而，在高浓度下，在过渡金属如铁存在的情况下，它会驱动 ROS 的生成。就这些分子和氧化应激的双重功能而言，抗坏血酸/ROS 驱动的细胞死亡不一定是有害的过程——它们也可以是救命过程。
