Oxidation–Reduction Reactions

Donald B McCormick, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Published online: May 2003

DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0000610

Oxidation–reduction reactions in nature are usually catalysed by enzymes classified broadly as oxidoreductases. These enhance the rate of electron transfer from an oxidizable substrate, typically a hydrogen donor, to a reducible acceptor.

Keywords: oxidoreductases; dehydrogenases; reductases; oxidases; oxygenases; peroxidases; haem systems; catalases; pyridine nucleotides; flavins

Figure 1. Stereospecific hydride ion transfer to/from the nicotinamide moiety in NAD(P)-dependent oxidoreductases.
Figure 2. Biological redox states of flavocoenzymes with pKa values for interconversions of free species.
Figure 3. Catalytic mechanism of a typical NADPH-dependent flavoprotein disulfide reductase with the intermediacy of a flavin C(4a)-thio adduct.
Figure 4. Principal redox participants in the flow of electrons from metabolism of substrates to mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.
Scheme 1.
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 References
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    book McCormick DB (1996) "Coenzymes, biochemistry of". In: Meyers RA (ed.) Encyclopedia of Molecular Biology and Molecular Medicine, pp. 396–406. New York: VCH Publishers.
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    book Walsh C (1979) Enzymatic Reaction Mechanisms, pp. 349–521. San Francisco: WH Freeman.
 Further Reading
    book Creighton DJ and Murthy NSRK (1990) "Stereochemistry of enzyme-catalyzed reactions at carbon". In: Sigman DS and Boyer PD (eds) The Enzymes, vol. XIX, Mechanisms of Catalysis, pp. 323–421. New York: Academic Press.
    book Dolphin D, Poulson R and Avamovic O (eds) (1987) Pyridine Nucleotide Coenzymes, parts A and B. New York: Wiley-Interscience.
    book Lehninger AL, Nelson DL and Cox MM (1993) Principles of Biochemistry, chap. 18, pp. 542–594. New York: Worth Publishers.
    book McCormick DB (1996) "Coenzymes, biochemistry of". In: Meyers RA (ed.) Encyclopedia of Molecular Biology and Molecular Medicine, pp. 396–406. New York: VCH Publishers.
    book Müller F (ed.) (1991) Chemistry and Biochemistry of Flavoenzymes, vols I and II. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
    book Walsh C (1979) Enzymatic Reaction Mechanisms, pp. 349–521. San Francisco: WH Freeman.

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Enzymes: Structure and Action Mechanism
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Article Title: Oxidation–Reduction Reactions
 
How to Cite close
McCormick, Donald B(May 2003) Oxidation–Reduction Reactions. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1038/npg.els.0000610]