Isolation and characterization of a superoxide dismutase from the mollusc Helix Aspera

Abstract

It is well established that antioxidant defences have a crucial role to play in living organisms, especially during periods of over production of reactive oxygen species such as superoxides. In the first line of the defence is the enzyme superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15 .1.1) which catalyses the disputation of superoxide radicals and is, as a result, widely distributed throughout the plant and animal kingdoms. In view of the interest of superoxide dismutases not only from an evolutionary standpoint but also because of their potential in the management of free-radical diseases and as part of our studies on the structure - function relationships of these enzymes we have purified and characterised a copper/zinc superoxide dismutase Cu/ZnSOD from the pulmonate mollusc, Helix aspersa.