We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are Peroxiredoxins?

By Steven Symes
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,951
References
Share

Peroxiredoxins are a group of protein-based antioxidant enzymes that are found in an organism’s cells. These enzymes facilitate the signal transduction within the organism’s cells, causing a physiological response at the organism’s cellular level. The enzymes also control the peroxide levels found in cells, by controlling other proteins known as cytokine, which ultimately produce the cells’ peroxide.

Researchers have determined that peroxiredoxins perform several vital functions in mammal organisms. In fact, lab mice that have low or no peroxiredoxins present in their blood supply have suffered as a result from anemia as well as hemopoiesis or blood-born cancers. The lower amounts of the enzyme can also effectively shorten the life of some lab mice by making them more susceptible to infection or disease. Other lab mice suffer from oxidative stress, or their bodies’ inability to remove toxins from the oxygen supplied to the cells.

Other vital functions that take place in mammals and other organisms are controlled or facilitated by peroxiredoxins. For example, the enzymes found in plants protect against oxidation in the cells that are part of the plant’s photosynthesis system. With mammals, the enzymes regulate events such as the death of cells, the production of new cells and the passing of impulses from one cell to another.

The levels of peroxiredoxins found in an organism’s cells are regulated by changes in phosphate levels or oligomer levels in the organism. Enzyme levels in an organism can also be affected by any chemical reactions in the organism that alter the oxidation state of atoms, such as when carbon is oxidized and produces carbon dioxide. An organism continues to recycle the enzymes in its cells, rather than constantly producing new enzymes.

The enzymes in the peroxiredoxins family can be found not only in mammals, but in other organisms as well. Mammals produce six different types of the enzymes in the family, while E. coli produces only three different types. In mammals, the enzymes can constitute up to one percent of the total amount of proteins found in an organism’s cells.

A organism’s body’s “clock” or circadian rhythm is also regulated by the peroxiredoxins present in the cells. The circadian rhythm is the 24 hour biological clock that drives physiological and behavioral functions in various organisms, including in mammals and plants, which are independent of environmental cues such as when the sun rises or sets. Even though other elements in a body contribute to the circadian rhythm, researchers have determined that these enzymes have regulated the circadian rhythm in mammals longer than any other known element.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-peroxiredoxins.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.