"If we reduce the number of oxygen radicals, we improve the antioxidant status in our body and live longer." -
Manoj Jain
Ever wondered what causes us to age, resulting in death of our body cells over the years, or develop heart disease leading to plaque in the artery, or suffer from cancer causing cells to mutate and grow erratically? The answer may be simpler than we think.
Some researchers say the common denominator in all these conditions is the antioxidant status the level of a chemical process that takes place in our cells and genes. Like we measure our cholesterol level, researchers argue, we can measure our antioxidant status and determine how vulnerable we are to diseases.
In a pilot study, biochemists at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) studied the effect of Sudarshan Kriya on the antioxidant status of individuals. Sudarshan Kriya is a well known rhythmic breathing technique promoted by The AoL workshops. It is preceded by Ujjayi Pranayam or long and deep breaths with constriction at the base of throat and Bhastrika or fast and forceful breaths through the nose along with arm movements.
Before we talk about their findings, let’s step back into our biochemistry class and understand what is antioxidant status means?
According to the free-radical theory, the cells in our body are being constantly damaged and destroyed by oxygen radicals, similar to what dirt and rust do to our cars.Oxygen radicals are different from oxygen gas in that they are molecules that are highly charged and detrimental byproducts of cell reactions.Our body has an antioxidant defense system (A D S)that constantly searches and destroys these oxygen radicals, much like our immune system, which polices our body for foreign agents such as bacteria and viruses and eliminates them. If the antioxidant defense system of our body is weak, then the number of oxygen radicals increases, causing our cells to die quickly. This results in inflammation and plaque within our heart vessels or prompts the cells to mutate into cancer cells.
Answer If we reduce the number of oxygen radicals, we improve the antioxidant status in our body, and we live longer and lead a disease free life Our bodies, of course, constantly require oxygen. The reason is that we need somewhere to place the used electrons that drive our energy requiring processes. These electrons are derived from molecules such as fats and carbohydrates and are transferred around the cells by molecules such as the coenzymes NADH and NADPH. When the electrons have given up their energy, they are combined with oxygen to form water. Since the electrons are given to water, we say that the oxygen is reduced, forming water in the process. This is going on constantly in the body, and we end up with a completely harmless substance, water.
But observe that two electrons are required for each oxygen atom to form H2O. What happens if only one electron is given to each oxygen atom? Instead of water, we wind up with a radical. (What is the definition of a radical? Be sure to use "orbital" in your answer.) Oxygen radicals tend to be quite reactive, and can damage many of the most important macromolecules in the body. Fortunately, only tiny amounts are made in the normal course of metabolism.
Oxygen Radicals and Phagocytosis However, in phagocytosis oxygen radicals can be useful. Consider a neutrophil that has just engulfed a bacterium. This is fine, but now the neutrophil has to deal somehow with the living, dangerous microorganism it has just surrounded. To this end, lysosomes fuse with the phagosome, forming a phagolysosome.
lysosomes + phagosome, = phagolysosome.
Proteases are introduced into the phagosome in this way. But, in addition, a membrane protein called phagocyte oxidase(NADPH oxidase) winds up in the membrane of the phagolysosome.
Phagocyte oxidase is an enzyme that takes an electron from NADPH and transfers its to O2, forming the superoxide radical, O2-. . (The black dot indicates a radical.) The superoxide radical is only moderately reactive. However, it is soon converted to hydrogen peroxide by the enzyme superoxide dismutase. Hydrogen peroxide can damage microbes, but can be converted to something far more effective.
A further enzyme found in the phagolysosome of a neutrophil is myeloperoxidase. This converts hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to hypochlorite (HOCl). This is bleach! It readily kills almost any microorganism.
A second possible fate of the hydrogen peroxide is not helpful, but damaging to the body. If Fe++ or another heavy metal is present, the hydrogen peroxide is readily converted to the hydroxyl radical, OH.. (Please note this is completely different that the hydroxyl ion.)
The hydroxyl radical is very reactive and damages most macromolecules, including DNA, proteins and lipids.
Thus, it is very important that iron never be free in the body. But iron is an important constituent of the body. For example, it is part of hemoglobin. To protect the body, iron is always tightly bound. It moves through the blood bound to the protein transferrin and is stored in cells bound to the protein ferritin.
Cells throughout the body clearly need protection from the molecules described above. Most of these cells have superoxide dismutase and another enzyme, catalase (or another enzyme, glutathione peroxidase), which converts the hydrogen peroxide to oxygen and water. In other words, the combination of superoxide dismutase and catalase removes oxygen radicals and thus is protective for cells in the body.
Manoj Jain
Ever wondered what causes us to age, resulting in death of our body cells over the years, or develop heart disease leading to plaque in the artery, or suffer from cancer causing cells to mutate and grow erratically? The answer may be simpler than we think.
Some researchers say the common denominator in all these conditions is the antioxidant status the level of a chemical process that takes place in our cells and genes. Like we measure our cholesterol level, researchers argue, we can measure our antioxidant status and determine how vulnerable we are to diseases.
In a pilot study, biochemists at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) studied the effect of Sudarshan Kriya on the antioxidant status of individuals. Sudarshan Kriya is a well known rhythmic breathing technique promoted by The AoL workshops. It is preceded by Ujjayi Pranayam or long and deep breaths with constriction at the base of throat and Bhastrika or fast and forceful breaths through the nose along with arm movements.
Before we talk about their findings, let’s step back into our biochemistry class and understand what is antioxidant status means?
According to the free-radical theory, the cells in our body are being constantly damaged and destroyed by oxygen radicals, similar to what dirt and rust do to our cars.Oxygen radicals are different from oxygen gas in that they are molecules that are highly charged and detrimental byproducts of cell reactions.Our body has an antioxidant defense system (A D S)that constantly searches and destroys these oxygen radicals, much like our immune system, which polices our body for foreign agents such as bacteria and viruses and eliminates them. If the antioxidant defense system of our body is weak, then the number of oxygen radicals increases, causing our cells to die quickly. This results in inflammation and plaque within our heart vessels or prompts the cells to mutate into cancer cells.
Answer If we reduce the number of oxygen radicals, we improve the antioxidant status in our body, and we live longer and lead a disease free life Our bodies, of course, constantly require oxygen. The reason is that we need somewhere to place the used electrons that drive our energy requiring processes. These electrons are derived from molecules such as fats and carbohydrates and are transferred around the cells by molecules such as the coenzymes NADH and NADPH. When the electrons have given up their energy, they are combined with oxygen to form water. Since the electrons are given to water, we say that the oxygen is reduced, forming water in the process. This is going on constantly in the body, and we end up with a completely harmless substance, water.
But observe that two electrons are required for each oxygen atom to form H2O. What happens if only one electron is given to each oxygen atom? Instead of water, we wind up with a radical. (What is the definition of a radical? Be sure to use "orbital" in your answer.) Oxygen radicals tend to be quite reactive, and can damage many of the most important macromolecules in the body. Fortunately, only tiny amounts are made in the normal course of metabolism.
Oxygen Radicals and Phagocytosis However, in phagocytosis oxygen radicals can be useful. Consider a neutrophil that has just engulfed a bacterium. This is fine, but now the neutrophil has to deal somehow with the living, dangerous microorganism it has just surrounded. To this end, lysosomes fuse with the phagosome, forming a phagolysosome.
lysosomes + phagosome, = phagolysosome.
Proteases are introduced into the phagosome in this way. But, in addition, a membrane protein called phagocyte oxidase(NADPH oxidase) winds up in the membrane of the phagolysosome.
Phagocyte oxidase is an enzyme that takes an electron from NADPH and transfers its to O2, forming the superoxide radical, O2-. . (The black dot indicates a radical.) The superoxide radical is only moderately reactive. However, it is soon converted to hydrogen peroxide by the enzyme superoxide dismutase. Hydrogen peroxide can damage microbes, but can be converted to something far more effective.
A further enzyme found in the phagolysosome of a neutrophil is myeloperoxidase. This converts hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to hypochlorite (HOCl). This is bleach! It readily kills almost any microorganism.
A second possible fate of the hydrogen peroxide is not helpful, but damaging to the body. If Fe++ or another heavy metal is present, the hydrogen peroxide is readily converted to the hydroxyl radical, OH.. (Please note this is completely different that the hydroxyl ion.)
The hydroxyl radical is very reactive and damages most macromolecules, including DNA, proteins and lipids.
Thus, it is very important that iron never be free in the body. But iron is an important constituent of the body. For example, it is part of hemoglobin. To protect the body, iron is always tightly bound. It moves through the blood bound to the protein transferrin and is stored in cells bound to the protein ferritin.
Cells throughout the body clearly need protection from the molecules described above. Most of these cells have superoxide dismutase and another enzyme, catalase (or another enzyme, glutathione peroxidase), which converts the hydrogen peroxide to oxygen and water. In other words, the combination of superoxide dismutase and catalase removes oxygen radicals and thus is protective for cells in the body.
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