Formation of the antioxidant Superoxide Dismutase requires cofactors from which minerals?

Prepare for the NANP Food and Nutrition Exam with comprehensive flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question includes hints and thorough explanations. Ensure your success on exam day!

Multiple Choice

Formation of the antioxidant Superoxide Dismutase requires cofactors from which minerals?

Explanation:
Superoxide dismutase relies on metal ions to perform its antioxidant job, converting harmful superoxide radicals into hydrogen peroxide and oxygen. There are different forms of SOD that use different minerals: the Mn form in mitochondria uses manganese, while the Cu/Zn form in the cytosol and extracellular space uses copper (with zinc helping stabilize the enzyme). So minerals like manganese and copper are essential cofactors for SOD’s activity. Selenium, by contrast, is a key cofactor for glutathione peroxidase, not SOD; iodine has no role in SOD; and calcium and magnesium are not cofactors for this enzyme.

Superoxide dismutase relies on metal ions to perform its antioxidant job, converting harmful superoxide radicals into hydrogen peroxide and oxygen. There are different forms of SOD that use different minerals: the Mn form in mitochondria uses manganese, while the Cu/Zn form in the cytosol and extracellular space uses copper (with zinc helping stabilize the enzyme). So minerals like manganese and copper are essential cofactors for SOD’s activity.

Selenium, by contrast, is a key cofactor for glutathione peroxidase, not SOD; iodine has no role in SOD; and calcium and magnesium are not cofactors for this enzyme.

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