Multifaceted superoxide dismutase 1 expression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients:a rare occurrence?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)is a neuromuscular condition resulting from the progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the cortex,brainstem,and spinal cord.While the typical clinical phenotype of ALS involves both upper and lower motor neurons,human and animal studies over the years have highlighted the potential spread to other motor and non-motor regions,expanding the phenotype of ALS.Although superoxide dismutase 1(SOD1)mutations represent a minority of ALS cases,the SOD1 gene remains a milestone in ALS research as it represents the first genetic target for personalized therapies.Despite numerous single case reports or case series exhibiting extramotor symptoms in patients with ALS mutations in SOD1(SOD1-ALS),no studies have comprehensively explored the full spectrum of extramotor neurological manifestations in this subpopulation.In this narrative review,we analyze and discuss the available literature on extrapyramidal and non-motor features during SOD1-ALS.The multifaceted expression of SOD1 could deepen our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms,pointing towards a multidisciplinary approach for affected patients in light of new therapeutic strategies for SOD1-ALS.

Research Progress on Synthesis of Superoxide Dismutase Mimics

Research on the synthesis of superoxide dismutase mimics by chemical and biologi-cal synthetic methods were reviewed.The advantages and limitations were analyzed.A prospect for the future development of superoxide dismutase mimics is proposed.

The landscape of cognitive impairment in superoxide dismutase 1-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Although mutations in the superoxide dismutase 1 gene account for only a minority of total amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases,the discovery of this gene has been crucial for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis research.Since the identification of superoxide dismutase 1 in 1993,the field of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis genetics has considerably widened,improving our understanding of the diverse pathogenic basis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.In this review,we focus on cognitive impairment in superoxide dismutase 1-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.Literature has mostly reported that cognition remains intact in superoxide dismutase 1-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients,but recent reports highlight frontal lobe function frailty in patients carrying different superoxide dismutase 1-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mutations.We thoroughly reviewed all the various mutations reported in the literature to contribute to a comprehensive database of superoxide dismutase 1-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis genotype-phenotype correlation.Such a resource could ultimately improve our mechanistic understanding of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,enabling a more robust assessment of how the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis phenotype responds to different variants across genes,which is important for the therapeutic strategy targeting genetic mutations.Cognition in superoxide dismutase 1-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis deserves further longitudinal research since this peculiar frailty in patients with similar mutations can be conditioned by external factors,including environment and other unidentified agents including modifier genes.

Analysis of Amylase and Superoxide Dismutase Isozymes During the Germination Process of Emmenopterys henryi Oliv Seeds

[ Objective] The study was to understand the changes of amylase（AMY） and superoxide dismutase（SOD） isozymes during the ger- mination process of Emmenopterys henryi Oliv seeds. [ Metbod] By employing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis method, the expressions of AMY and SOD isozymes during seed germination process were analyzed. ~ Result] The main AMY bands remained strong during the whole peri- od and a new band A2 appeared in the middle and late period of seed germination. Some new SOD bands occurred at the early stage, then be- came weak or disappeared in the middle period, and band S6 became intense in the late peried. [ Conclusion.] The expression of AMY and SOD isozyme gene has temporal difference during germination of E. henryi Oliv seeds.

NRF2 signaling cascade in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis:bridging the gap between promise and reality

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a very disabling disease due to the degeneration of motor neurons.Symptoms include muscle weakness and atrophy,spasticity,and progressive paralysis.Currently,there is no treatment to reverse damage to motor neurons and cure amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.The only two treatments actually approved,riluzole and edaravone,have shown mitigated beneficial effects.The difficulty to find a cure lies in the complexity and multifaceted pattern of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathogenesis.Among mechanisms,abnormal RNA metabolism,nucleocytoplasmic transport defects,accumulation of unfolded protein,and mitochondrial dysfunction would in fine induce oxidative damage and vice versa.A potent therapeutic strategy will be to find molecules that break this vicious circle.Sharpening the nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 signaling may fulfill this objective since nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 has a multitarget profile controlling antioxidant defense,mitochondrial functioning,and inflammation.We here discuss the interest of developing nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2-based therapy in regard to the pathophysiological mechanisms and we provide a general overview of the attempted clinical assays in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Hypidone hydrochloride(YL-0919)ameliorates functional deficits after traumatic brain injury in mice by activating the sigma-1 receptor for antioxidation

Traumatic brain injury involves complex pathophysiological mechanisms,among which oxidative stress significantly contributes to the occurrence of secondary injury.In this study,we evaluated hypidone hydrochloride(YL-0919),a self-developed antidepressant with selective sigma-1 receptor agonist properties,and its associated mechanisms and targets in traumatic brain injury.Behavioral experiments to assess functional deficits were followed by assessment of neuronal damage through histological analyses and examination of blood-brain barrier permeability and brain edema.Next,we investigated the antioxidative effects of YL-0919 by assessing the levels of traditional markers of oxidative stress in vivo in mice and in vitro in HT22 cells.Finally,the targeted action of YL-0919 was verified by employing a sigma-1 receptor antagonist(BD-1047).Our findings demonstrated that YL-0919 markedly improved deficits in motor function and spatial cognition on day 3 post traumatic brain injury,while also decreasing neuronal mortality and reversing blood-brain barrier disruption and brain edema.Furthermore,YL-0919 effectively combated oxidative stress both in vivo and in vitro.The protective effects of YL-0919 were partially inhibited by BD-1047.These results indicated that YL-0919 relieved impairments in motor and spatial cognition by restraining oxidative stress,a neuroprotective effect that was partially reversed by the sigma-1 receptor antagonist BD-1047.YL-0919 may have potential as a new treatment for traumatic brain injury.

Combined Extracting Process and Activity Detection of Porcine Blood Superoxide Dismutase

[Objective] TO study the combined extracting process of porcine blood superoxide dismutase （SOD） and other bioactive substances and thus to provide technical basis for making full use of blood resources and large-scale production of SOD. [Method] Fibronectin, immunoglobulin, and hemoglobin were isolated from porcine blood, and SOD was extracted. Trace pyrogallol self-oxidation method to determine SOD activity was modified by optimizing the volume of pyrogallol and SOD samples, reaction temperature, and buffer pH. The specific activity of SOD was determined with the optimized extraction conditions. [ Result] The improved experimental conditions of SOD activity detection were as follows： 7 pyrogallol （50 mmol/L）, 3 ml Tris-HCI （50 mmol/L, pH 8.2）, reactive temperature at 25（3, and 10 pl SOD sample solution. The specific activity of extracted SOD was 5 056 U/mg protein. [ Conclusion] Four kinds of bioactive substance can be isolated from porcine blood by modern biological engi- neering integration technology, and the extracted SOD has better activity.

Oxidative Stress in Collegiate Cross Country Skiers in Mid- and Post-Seasons

Purpose: The oxidative stress (OS) hypothesis of overtraining syndrome argues that increased production of free radicals through exercise cause muscle fatigue and damage resulting in lower athletic performance. Several studies have investigated OS immediately before and after exercise bouts in a training macrocycle. Our study aimed to compare OS of endurance athletes between a competition macrocycle and the immediate post-season recovery macrocycle. In addition, we aimed to identify athletes who experienced an unexplainable drop in athletic performance during the competition season in order to compare their OS to those who experienced no drop in performance. Methods: Fifteen members of the University of Alaska Fairbanks cross country ski team volunteered for this study. Blood samples were taken in early February (“mid-season”) and late April (“post-season”). Participants completed questionnaires regarding physical activity and athletic performance at the time of the blood draws. Plasma was analyzed for 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), nitrotyrosine, nitric oxide (NOX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Significance was determined by Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: Participants displayed significantly higher (p Conclusion: Signs of oxidative stress and mitigation during the post-season recovery macrocycle were higher in athletes who reported experiencing a drop in athletic performance during the competition season macrocycle.

Superoxide dismutase prevents development of adenocarcinoma in a rat model of Barrett's esophagus

AIM： To test whether antioxidant treatment could prevent the progression of Barrett＇s esophagus to adenocarcinoma. METHODS： In a rat model of gastroduodenoesophageal reflux by esophagojejunal anastomosis with gastric preservation, groups of 6-10 rats were randomized to receive treatment with superoxide dismutase （SOD） or vehicle and followed up for 4 too. Rat＇s esophagus was assessed by histological analysis, superoxide anion and peroxinitrite generation, SOD levels and DNA oxidative damage. RESULTS： All rats undergoing esophagojejunostomy developed extensive esophageal mucosal ulceration and inflammation by mo 4. The process was associated with a progressive presence of intestinal metaplasia beyond the anastomotic area （9% 1st mo and 50% 4th too） （94% at the anastomotic level） and adenocarcinoma （11% 1^ST mo and 60% 4th too）. These changes were associated with superoxide anion and peroxinitrite mucosal generation, an early and significant increase of DNA oxidative damage and a significant decrease in SOD levels （P〈0.05）. Exogenous administration of SOD decreased mucosal superoxide levels, increased mucosal SOD levels and reduced the risk of developing intestinal metaplasia beyond the anastomotic area （odds ratio = 0.326; 95%CI： 0.108-0.981; P = 0.046）, and esophageal adenocarcinoma （odds ratio = 0.243; 95%CI： 0.073-0.804; P = 0.021）. CONCLUSION： Superoxide dismutase prevents the progression of esophagitis to Barrett＇s esophagus and adenocarcinoma in this rat model of gastrointestinal reflux, supporting a role of antioxidants in the chemoprevention of esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Purification and Properties of Superoxide Dismutase(SOD) in Allium Sativum

Superoxide dismutases(SODs) were purified to homogeneity from Allium Sativum by means of ammonium sulfate precipitation and column chromatography with DEAE-cellulose(DE52) and Sephadex G-75. Based on sodium dodecyl sulfate\|polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-AGE), Allium Sativum is predicted to contain four SODs. The molecular weights of the native SODs are 41 3 kD, 37 0 kD, 35 2 kD and 31 0 kD, which consist of subunits of 20 7 kD, 18 4 kD, 17 7 kD and 15 4 kD respectively. Because of their specific sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide, cyanogens potassium and chloroform\|alcohol, the SODs in Allium Sativum appear to be Cu, Zn-SOD isoenzymes. The isoelectric analysis indicates that three of the four isoenzymes are acidic proteins with isoelectric points at pH 3 5, 3 7 and 4 0, respectively, and the fourth one is a basic protein with isoeletric point at pH 8 5.

Differential Expression of Two Cytosolic Ascorbate Peroxidases and Two Superoxide Dismutase Genes in Response to Abiotic Stress in Rice

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) play central roles in the pathway for scavenging reactive oxygen species in plants, thereby contributing to the tolerance against abiotic stress. Here we report the responses of cytosolic SOD (cSOD; sodCc1 and sodCc2) and cytosolic APX (cAPX; OsAPX1 and OsAPX2) genes to oxidative and abiotic stress in rice. RNA blot analyses revealed that methyl viologen treatment caused a more prominent induction of cAPXs compared with cSODs, and hydrogen peroxide treatment induced the expression of cAPXs whereas cSODs were not affected. These results suggest that cAPXs play more important roles in defense against oxidative stress compared with cSODs. It is noted that cSODs and cAPXs showed coordinate response to abscisic acid treatment which induced both sodCc1 and OsAPX2. However, cSODs and cAPXs responded differentially to drought, salt and chilling stress, which indicates that cSOD and cAPX genes are expressed differentially in response to oxidative and abiotic stress in rice.

Transcript profiles of mitochondrial and cytoplasmic manganese superoxide dismutases in Exopalaemon carinicauda under ammonia stress

Superoxide dismutase （SOD） is one of the most important antioxidant defense enzymes, and is considered as the first line against oxidative stress. In this study, we cloned a mitochondrial manganese （Mn） SOD （mMnSOD） cDNA from the ridgetail white prawn Exopalaemon carinicauda by using rapid amplification of cDNA ends （RACE） methods. The fulMength cDNA for mMnSOD was 1 014-bp long, containing a 5＇-untranslated region （UTR） of 37-bp, a 3＇-UTR of 321-bp with a poly （A） tail, and included a 657-bp open reading frame encoding a protein of 218 amino acids with a 16-amino-acid signal peptide. The protein had a calculated molecular weight of 23.87 kDa and a theoretical isoelectric point of 6.75. The mMnSOD sequence included two putative N-glycosylation sites （NHT and NLS）, the MnSOD signature sequence 18~DVWEHAYY^87, and four putative Mn binding sites （H48, H96, D180, and H184）. Sequence comparison showed that the mMnSOD deduced amino acid sequence of E. carinicauda shared 97%, 95%, 89%, 84%, 82%, 72%, and 69% identity with that ofMacrobrachium rosenbergii, Macrobrachium nipponense, Fenneropeneaus chinensis, Callinectes sapidus, Perisesarma bidens, Danio rerio, and Homo sapiens, resectively. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that mMnSOD transcripts were present in all E. carinicauda tissues examined, with the highest levels in the hepatopancreas. During an ammonia stress treatment, the transcript levels of mMnSOD and cMnSOD were up-regulated at 12 h in hemocytes and at 24 h in the hepatopancreas. As the duration of the ammonia stress treatment extended to 72 h, the transcript levels of mMnSOD and cMnSOD significantly decreased both in hemocytes and hepatopancreas. These findings indicate that the SOD system is induced to respond to acute ammonia stress, and may be involved in environmental stress responses in E. carinicauda.

Extracellular superoxide dismutase VdSOD5 is required for virulence in Verticillium dahliae

Plants produce reactive oxygen species(ROS) to defend pathogens. To counteract this attack, certain pathogens express superoxide dismutases(SODs) to scavenge host-derived ROS. However, the roles of SODs in Verticillium dahliae, an important vascular pathogen, are not clear. Our previous study has shown that a putative extracellular SOD(VdSOD5) of V. dahliae is significantly induced by culturing in cotton tissues, suggesting that VdSOD5 may play an important role in host–pathogen interactions and virulence. Here, we showed that VdSOD5 encoded a superoxide dismutase with a cofactor copper-binding site and a functional signal peptide that can conduct protein secretion in an invertase-mutated yeast strain. The mutations in VdSOD5(ΔVdSOD5) did not change the normal vegetative growth and conidial production but reduced the virulence of V. dahliae on susceptible host cotton. Further studies showed that the transcription of Vd SOD5 was significantly up-regulated during the early stage of infection, and the loss-of-function of VdSOD5 decreased culture filtrate and fungal tissue SOD activities of V. dahliae by 74 and 28%, respectively. Compared to the wild-type strain Vd991, the ΔVdSOD5 showed the same sensitivity to the intracellular ROS generator menadione. Furthermore, nitroblue tetrazolium(NBT) staining demonstrated that VdSOD5 functioned in the detoxification of superoxides generated by host roots during infection. These results suggest that VdSOD5 of V. dahliae is an important virulence factor, secreted out of cells to combat host-derived ROS.

Expression and Characterization of an Active Chimeric Protein of Human Extracellular Superoxide Dismutase and hCuZnSOD in Pichia pastoris

Mammalian cells express two isoforms of Cu- and Zn-containing superoxide dismutases（SODs）, CuZn-SOD and extracellular SOD（EC-SOD）, involved in the defense system against reactive oxygen species（ROS）. The two SODs have structurally homologous centre domain with distinct N- and C-terminuses, resulting in the different characteristics of the structure and function of the two molecules. We generated a hybrid SOD molecule（namely hy- SOD） via replacing the N- and C-terminuses of hCuZnSOD with the counterparts of hEC-SOD. The hySOD was expressed in host Pichia pastoris and the purified protein was a dimer with a molecular weight of about 34000. A series of activity analyses indicates that the hySOD is similar to hEC-SOD in heat-stability, and has the activity of protecting the host cell against heat shock and oxidative stress. Our results show evidence for the study on the compound activity of multiple SOD molecules, and may be important for understanding the relationship between structure and function of hEC-SOD and hCuZnSOD.

Effect of superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde metabolic changes on carcinogenesis of gastric carcinoma

AIM： To investigate the relationship between the superoxide dismutase （SOD）, malondialdehyde （MDA） metabolic changes and the gastric carcinogenesis.METHODS： The SOD activity and MDA content were measured in the gastric tissues from the focus center, peripheral and far-end areas of gastric carcinoma （n = 52） arid gastric ulcer （n = 10）. All the tissues were subjected to routine histological examinations and classifications.RESULTS： The SOD activity was greatly reduced but the MDA content was markedly increased in the center areas of the non-mucous gastric carcinoma （non-MGC）; and the poorly differentiated gastric carcinoma varied. The SOD activity was gradually decreased and the MDA content was gradually increased in the tissues from the focus far-end, peripheral to center areas of non-MGC. Both of the SOD activity and the MDA content were significantly declined and were respectively at same low level in the tissues from the focus center, peripheral, and far-end area with the mucous gastric carcinoma （MGC）. In contrast to the gastric ulcer and grade I or II of non-MGC, the same level of the SOD activity and the MDA content were found in the focus center areas. Between non-MGC （groups A-D） and gastric ulcer （group F）, the differences of SOD activity and MDA content were very noticeable in the gastric tissues from the focus peripheral and far-end areas, in which the SOD activity showed noticeable increase and the MDA content showed noticeable decreasein the gastric ulcer.CONCLUSION： The active free radical reaction in the gastric tissues can induce the carcinogenesis of non-MGC. The utmost low ability of antioxidation in the gastric tissues can induce the carcinogenesis of MGC. The metabolic change of the free radicals centralized mostly in the center of ulcerated lesions only, which suggested the ability of antioxidation was declined only in these lesions. However, the metabolism of free radicals varied significantly and the ability of antioxidation declined not only in the local focus area but also in the abroad gastric tissues with gastric carcinoma.

Serum manganese superoxide dismutase and thioredoxin are potential prognostic markers for hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM:To evaluate the clinical significance of oxidative stress markers in patients with hepatitis C virus(HCV)related hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS:Sixty-four consecutive patients who were admitted to Kagoshima University Medical and Dental Hospital were enrolled in this retrospective study.All patients had chronic liver disease(CLD) due to infection with HCV.Thirty patients with HCV-related HCC,34 with HCV-related CLD without HCC(non-HCC),and 20 healthy volunteers(HVs) were enrolled.Possible associations between serum manganese superoxide dismutase(MnSOD) and thioredoxin(TRX) levels and clinical parameters or patient prognosis were analyzed over a mean follow-up period of 31.7 mo.RESULTS:The serum MnSOD levels were significantly higher in patients with HCV-related HCC than in patients without HCC(P = 0.03) or HVs(P < 0.001).Similarly,serum TRX levels were also significantly higher in patients with HCV-related HCC than in patients without HCC(P = 0.04) or HVs(P < 0.01).However,serum levels of MnSOD and TRX were not correlated in patients with HCC.Among patients with HCC,the overall survival rate(OSR) was lower in patients with MnSOD levels ≥ 110 ng/mL than in patients with levels < 110 ng/mL(P = 0.01),and the OSR tended to be lower in patients with TRX levels < 80 ng/mL(P = 0.05).In addition,patient prognosis with HCC was poorest with serum MnSOD levels ≥ 110 ng/mL and serum TRX levels < 80 ng/mL.Furthermore,a multivariate analysis using a Cox proportional hazard model and serum levels of five factors(MnSOD,prothrombin time,serum albumin,serum α-fetoprotein(AFP),and serum des-γ-carboxy prothrombin) revealed that MnSOD levels ≥ 110 ng/mL(risk ratio:4.12,95% confidential interval:1.22-13.88,P = 0.02) and AFP levels ≥ 40 ng/mL(risk ratio:6.75;95% confidential interval:1.70-26.85,P < 0.01) were independent risk factors associated with a poor patient prognosis.CONCLUSION:Serum MnSOD and TRX levels are potential clinical biomarkers that predict patient prognosis in HCV-related HCC.

Characterization of a thermostable manganese-containing superoxide dismutase from inshore hot spring thermophile Thermus sp.JM1

A thermostable superoxide dismutase （SOD） from the inshore thermophile Thermus sp. JM1 was purified to homogeneity by steps of fractional ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-Sepharose chromatography and Phenyl-Sepharose chromatography. The specific activity of the purified native enzyme was 1 656 U/mg. A sod gene from this strain was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli （E. coli）. The prepared apo-enzyme of the purified recombinant SOD （rSOD） was reconstituted with either Fe or Mn by means of incubation with appropriate metal salts. As a result, only Mn 2＋ - reconstituted rSOD （Mn-rSOD） exhibited the specific activity of 1 598 U/mg. SOD from Thermus sp. JM1 was Mn-SOD, judging by the specific activities analysis of Fe or Mn reconstituted rSODs and the insensitivity of the native SOD to both cyanide and H 2 O 2 . Both the native SOD and Mn- rSOD were determined to be homotetramers with monomeric molecular mass of 26 kDa and 27.5 kDa, respectively. They had high thermostability at 50 ° C and 60 ° C, and showed striking stability across a wide pH span from 4.0 to 11.0.

Regulation of Content of Malondialdehyde by Siqi Decoction via Increasing Activity of Superoxide Dismutase in Blood Serum of Rats with Myocardial Ischemia

Effect of Siqi decoction on myocardial ischemia is to prevent cardiac myocyte membrane from damage associated with oxygen free radicals related to NO. To research the regulatoin of the content of malondialdehyde by Siqi decoction, an index of lipid peroxidation, via increasing activity of superoxide dismutase in blood serum of rats with Myocardial Ischemia, the model of myocardium ischemia was made in Wistar rats with posterior pituitary injection through vein in tail. Siqi decoction, Diaoxinxuekang（DK） and Fufangdanshenpian（FD）, the latter two drugs of which are effective TCM drugs of anti-myocardial ischemia at present, were administrated to the rats with myocardium ischemia for 5 days to compare the effect of them on myocardium ischemia as reference drugs via measuring the changes of the content of malondialdehyde and the activity of superoxide dismutase in the rat blood serum with myocardial ischemia. There were a remarkable increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase and a decrease in the content of malondialdehyde in the serum of the rats administered Siqi decoction compared with those of the rats in control group, p〈0.05. The contents of MDA in the serum of the prevention group rats in the experiments are lower than those of the cure group rats. Anti-Myocardium Ischemia mechanism of Siqi decoction is the regulation of the content of malondialdehyde via increasing activity of superoxide dismutase in the serum of Rats with myocardial ischemia and stimulating the activity of NOS in serum so as to increase NO concentration.

INFLUENCE OF ZINC，MANGANESE AND SELENIUM ONSUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE ACTIVITY IN LUNGCANCER TISSUE AND CELL IN CULTURE

In this experiment,the cancer tissues and cells,Which were derived from Lewis lung cancer and A549 lung Cancer cell line,were respectively divided into four groups and zinc, manganese and selenium were respectively added to the medium for 24 hours. The superoxide dismutase activity in the tissues and the cells was estimated. It was found that the SOD activity was enhanced by zinc and manganese and the effect of zinc on SOD activity was superior to that of manganese. We supposed that the enhance of the SOD activity was relative to the activation of the SOD apoenzymes. This experimental result indicated that the inhibitory effect of zinc and manganese on carcinogenesis was achieved by SOD and the elements might be considered a SOD activator.

Purification and Characterization of Superoxide Dismutase(SOD) from Camellia Pollen

A superoxide dismutase（ SOD ） was purified to homogeneity from fresh camellia pollen by means of ammonium sulfate precipitation and column chromatography with DEAE-cellulose（ DE52 ）, Sephadex G-100 and phenyl sepharose^TM 6 Fast Flow columns. Its specific activity could reach to 4034 U/mg protein and it was determined to be Cu/ Zn-SOD according to its different sensitivities to different inhibitors. The molecular weight of the SOD and its subunit were 69500 and 34700, respectively, based on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis （SDS- PAGE）, which implicates that the SOD in camellia pollen is a dimmer composed of two identical subunits. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was determined to be 4. 1 by isoelectric focusing electrophoresis and the N-terminal amino acid was identified to be Gly by the DNS-Cl method. Its α-Helix was also calculated to be approximately 21.8% according to the circular dichroism（CD） spectra.