Superoxide Dismutase: Studies in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

In recent years, much useful information about oxidative damage and antioxidant protection has been gained through studies of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and other antioxidants in yeast. The field is still gaining momentum. In 1992, Dan Kosman and I reviewed the genetics and molecular biology of SOD in yeast in some detail (Gralla and Kosman 1992), but many new and exciting results have become available since then. It has been my primary goal in this review to cover thoroughly work that has been reported since the earlier review and to briefly summarize previous results, when necessary for background purposes. I have not included much background on the SOD protein or its enzymatic activity—it would be redundant for readers of this volume. (The interested reader may see Valentine and Pantoliano 1981; Fridovich 1989, 1995 and references therein; Halliwell and Gutteridge 1989). However, I have attempted to introduce and promote yeast as a good model system for studies of oxidative stress and to do justice to the many advances that have been made in this field through the use of the particular advantages of yeast as an experimental organism.

For the non-cognoscenti, it is useful to set forth some background on the use of yeast, specifically Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as an experimental system that can be used to model animal systems. S. cerevisiae is a simple one-celled eukaryotic organism (not a bacterium). It has the same subcellular organization as higher organisms —nucleus, mitochondria, Golgi, etc. —and shares many homologous enzymes, pathways, and regulatory...