Chapter 10, Problem 7Q

Summary Introduction

To review:

The way drugs with –SH (sulfhydryl groups) aid in the protection against ionizing radiation. The name of a molecule that does not have a –SH group, yet it protects against hydroxyl radical-induced damage.

Introduction:

ROS (reactive oxygen species) is a group of ions and free radicals that act as secondary messengers when present in appropriate amounts in a non-stressed cell. When a cell is subjected to stress, the concentration of ROS increases and leads to oxidative damage. Stress can be of different kinds, for example, radiation, exposure to harmful chemicals, or any foreign metabolite.