Oksydoreduktaz

Oksydoreduktaz, known in English as oxidoreductases, are a broad class of enzymes (EC class 1) that catalyze oxidation–reduction reactions. In these reactions, electrons or hydrogen atoms are transferred between a donor and an acceptor, effectively changing the oxidation state of one or both substrates.

The class includes oxidases, dehydrogenases, reductases, peroxidases and oxygenases. Many oksydoreduktazy rely on redox cofactors such as NAD+/NADH, NADP+/NADPH, FAD, FMN, heme groups, or iron–sulfur clusters, while others transfer electrons directly to molecular oxygen or to other acceptors. The specific mechanism and cofactors determine the biological role of each enzyme.

Oksydoreduktazy play central roles in metabolism, energy production, biosynthesis, and detoxification. They participate in pathways such as glycolysis and the mitochondrial electron transport chain, regulate redox balance, and enable the formation or breakdown of reactive oxygen species in cells. Examples include lactate dehydrogenase, which oxidizes lactate with NAD+ as a cofactor; glucose oxidase, which oxidizes glucose using oxygen and produces hydrogen peroxide; and cytochrome c oxidase, a key component of the respiratory chain that reduces oxygen to water. Alcohol dehydrogenases oxidize alcohols using NAD+/NADH cofactor cycling.

In biotechnology and medicine, oksydoreduktaz are used in biocatalysis, biosensors, pharmaceutical synthesis, and detoxification processes. Deficiencies or dysregulation of oxidoreductases can contribute to metabolic disorders and oxidative stress, while their versatile chemistry makes them valuable tools across research and industry.