Antioxidant and redox regulation of gene transcription

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are implicated in the pathogenesis of a wide variety of human diseases. Recent evidence suggests that at moderately high concentrations, certain forms of ROS such as H2O2 may act as signal transduction messengers. To develop a better understanding of the exact mechanisms that underlie ROS‐dependent disorders in biological systems, recent studies have investigated the regulation of gene expression by oxidants, antioxidants, and other determinants of the intracellular reduction‐oxidation (redox) state. At least two well‐defined transcription factors, nuclear factor (NF) κB and activator protein (AP) ‐1 have been identified to be regulated by the intracellular redox state. The regulation of gene expression by oxidants, antioxidants, and the redox state has emerged as a novel subdiscipline in molecular biology that has promising therapeutic implications. Binding sites of the redox …