iPedia Free Information Center

Information about Redox Signaling

Redox signaling is the concept that free radicals, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and other electronically-activated species act as messengers in biological systems.

History

The concept of electronically-activated species as messengers in both normal metabolism and in pathogenesis goes back to the 19th century. E.g., the biological pigment melanin is a stable free radical. Charles Darwin noted that white blue-eyed cats are usually deaf and that this may be secondary to some defect in neuronal development secondary to the absence of melanin pigment. Similarly, it has been known for centuries that radical-generating transition-series metals such as interocular copper or iron may produce massive vitreous fibrosis (scarring) as they oxidize. We now know that reactive oxygen species likely play a key role in fibrocyte activation.

Similarly, the "Adrenochrome Hypothesis" of Abram Hoffer and Humphry Osmond for the causation of schizophrenia involves the radical oxidation of the neurotransmitter epinephrine to the psychoactive compound adrenochrome.

External links

radicals (often referred to as free radicals) are atomic or molecular species with unpaired electrons on an otherwise open shell configuration. These unpaired electrons are usually highly reactive, so radicals are likely to take part in chemical reactions.
..... Click the link for more information.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) include oxygen ions, free radicals and peroxides both inorganic and organic. They are generally very small molecules and are highly reactive due to the presence of unpaired valence shell electrons.
..... Click the link for more information.
Broadly, melanin is any of the polyacetylene, polyaniline, and polypyrrole "blacks" and "browns" or their mixed copolymers. The most common form of biological melanin is a polymer of either or both of two monomer molecules: indolequinone, and dihydroxyindole carboxylic acid.
..... Click the link for more information.
Charles Robert Darwin

At the age of 51, Charles Darwin had just published On the Origin of Species.
..... Click the link for more information.
In chemistry, the term transition metal (sometimes also called a transition element) has two possible meanings:
  • It commonly refers to any element in the d-block of the periodic table, including zinc, cadmium and mercury.

..... Click the link for more information.
2, 1
(mildly basic oxide)
Electronegativity 1.90 (Pauling scale)
Ionization energies
(more) 1st: 745.5 kJmol−1
2nd: 1957.9 kJmol−1
3rd: 3666 kJmol−1

Atomic radius 135 pm
Atomic radius (calc.
..... Click the link for more information.
3, 4, 6
(amphoteric oxide)
Electronegativity 1.83 (Pauling scale)
Ionization energies
(more) 1st: 762.5 kJmol−1
2nd: 1561.9 kJmol−1
3rd: 2957 kJmol−1

Atomic radius 140 pm
Atomic radius (calc.
..... Click the link for more information.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) include oxygen ions, free radicals and peroxides both inorganic and organic. They are generally very small molecules and are highly reactive due to the presence of unpaired valence shell electrons.
..... Click the link for more information.
Humphry Osmond
Born July 1 1917(1917--)

Died January 6 2004 (aged 88)

Residence UK, Canada, USA
Citizenship
..... Click the link for more information.
Schizophrenia
Classification & external resources

Eugen Bleuler (1857–1939) coined the term "Schizophrenia" in 1908
ICD-10 F 20.
ICD-9 295

OMIM 181500
DiseasesDB 11890
MedlinePlus 000928
eMedicine med/2072   emerg/520


..... Click the link for more information.
Epinephrine (INN) (IPA: [ˌɛpɪˈnɛfrən]) or adrenaline (European Pharmacopoeia and BAN) (IPA: [əˈdrɛnələn]
..... Click the link for more information.
Adrenochrome, chemical formula C9H9NO3, is a pigment obtained by the oxidation of adrenaline (epinephrine). Adrenochrome monosemicarbazone, also known as carbazochrome, is a hemostatic, meaning it reduces capillary bleeding.
..... Click the link for more information.


This article is copied from an article on Wikipedia.org - the free encyclopedia created and edited by online user community. The text was not checked or edited by anyone on our staff. Although the vast majority of the wikipedia encyclopedia articles provide accurate and timely information please do not assume the accuracy of any particular article. This article is distributed under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License.
Herod_Archelaus


page counter