Abstract
Oxygen is a powerful oxidant, yet it is kinetically inert. This paradox has allowed life, in evolution, to come to terms with oxygen in the atmosphere, and to make controlled use of it in biosynthesis, biodegradation and respiration. The twin problems for survival are to activate oxygen sufficiently for reaction, while ensuring that dangerous by-products are not allowed to damage the organism. In this chapter we shall see that metals (almost exclusively Fe and Cu) are used to deal with oxygen, superoxide and peroxide. Flavin is the only organic co-factor known to interact enzymatically with oxygen.
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© 1980 P. M. Harrison and R. J. Hoare
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Harrison, P.M., Hoare, R.J. (1980). Dealing with oxygen. In: Metals in Biochemistry. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5736-7_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5736-7_4
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-0-412-13160-8
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-5736-7
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