Prokaryotic iron superoxide dismutase replaces cytosolic copper, zinc superoxide dismutase in protecting yeast cells against oxidative stress.

The iron superoxide dismutase (FeSOD) gene of Escherichia coli was cloned in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells deficient in copper,zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu,ZnSOD). FeSOD replaced Cu,ZnSOD in protecting the yeast cells against oxidative stress. In the recombinant strains the FeSOD gene, which was under the transcriptional control of the yeast phosphoglycerate kinase gene promoter, was functionally expressed at two different levels on episomal and centromeric plasmids. Despite suppression of methionine and lysine auxotrophy, the higher level of FeSOD activity was more beneficial to growth of the mutant yeast cells only when these were exposed to higher levels of oxidative stress induced by paraquat or 100% oxygen. In the presence of paraquat, there was a novel stimulation of FeSOD activity. This was associated with a marked increase in catalase activity, and a decrease in glutathione reductase activity.