Syreoxidaser

Syreoxidaser refers to enzymes that catalyze oxidation–reduction reactions using molecular oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor. In practice, the term covers oxidases that reduce O2 to water or hydrogen peroxide and oxygenases that incorporate oxygen into a substrate. In Swedish usage, syreoxidaser is often used to describe the broader family of oxygen-utilizing oxidoreductases.

Oxidases typically transfer electrons to O2, producing water or hydrogen peroxide without incorporating the oxygen into the substrate. Monooxygenases insert one atom of O2 into a substrate while reducing the other to water; dioxygenases insert both atoms of O2 into the substrate. Notable members include mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV), which reduces O2 to water in respiration, and glucose oxidase, which oxidizes glucose with O2 to gluconic acid and H2O2. Cytochrome P450 enzymes are monooxygenases that oxidize a wide range of lipids, drugs, and xenobiotics; lipoxygenases are dioxygenases that oxygenate polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Physiological roles span energy metabolism, defense against pathogens, and signaling through reactive oxygen species. Plants, fungi, and bacteria deploy oxidases in respiration, detoxification, and stress responses. Excess activity can contribute to oxidative stress and cellular damage if reactive oxygen species accumulate.

Applications of syreoxidaser research include biotechnology and diagnostics, where oxidases are used in biosensors (for glucose, uric acid, and lactate), in biocatalysis to introduce oxygen into substrates, and in environmental biotechnology for pollutant oxidation.

See also: oxidoreductases, oxidases, monooxygenases, dioxygenases, cytochrome c oxidase.