A double-edged sword: reactive oxygen species and how they are detected

A double-edged sword: reactive oxygen species and how they are detected

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Sponsored Content by BMG LABTECH GmbHJun 3 2019

Reactive oxygen species are unstable molecules containing oxygen as a by-product of the natural metabolism of oxygen. They are very reactive and can take many different forms including NO (nitric oxide), peroxynitrite (ONOO-), H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide), hydroxyl radical (OH-) and hydrochlorous acid (HOCl)1.

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The build-up of reactive oxygen species to a high level inside cells is known as oxidative stress. This causes damage to proteins, DNA and RNA and can even result in cell death. ROS biomolecules have been implicated in a variety of pathologies (disease). These include neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, the ageing process and atherosclerosis2. In response to oxidative stress, the body increases production of antioxidants, such as glutathione and catalase, and these convert the dangerous free radicals into harmless molecules like water3.