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Natural Antioxidant Enzymes: Masters in Working with Reactive Oxygen Species

21. 10. 2025 | 205 visits

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) – such as hydrogen peroxide, ozone, or the hydroxyl radical – cause oxidative stress in metabolically active cells. This stress can become toxic, as it damages essential biological macromolecules like DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids, and polysaccharides through oxidative modifications, most of which are irreversible. Therefore, all living organisms rely on effective antioxidants that prevent these harmful reactions and limit the formation of reactive oxygen compounds within cells.

Researchers from the Institute of Molecular Biology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (IMB SAS) have obtained funding for a new project focused on studying the biotechnological applications of various antioxidant enzymes. “We have examined different types of catalases, which release molecular oxygen from hydrogen peroxide, and peroxidases, which oxidize a range of molecules and ions by breaking down hydrogen peroxide. We are discovering more and more remarkable enzymes from fungi, and among antioxidant enzymes, so-called unspecific peroxygenases have recently gained increasing importance,” explains Marcel Zámocký from the Laboratory of Phylogenomic Ecology at IMB SAS.

These enzymes contain an active center – an iron ion bound in a heme structure, surrounded by a unique combination of amino acids. This exceptional “architecture” enables them to insert oxygen atoms from hydrogen peroxide directly into pollutant molecules – a crucial step toward sustainable biotechnologies of the future.

“These enzymes are mainly found in filamentous fungi, but also in algae and amoebae. Thanks to their oxyfunctionalization capability, they can gently and efficiently remove large amounts of hazardous chemicals from contaminated environments. They hold great potential for eco-friendly purification of water, soil, and industrial waste. Their unique reaction mechanism allows these newly discovered metalloenzymes to oxidize even highly resistant organic molecules originating from anthropogenic pollution,” adds Zámocký.

This environmentally friendly cleaning approach offers an alternative to traditional chemical synthesis, generating no hazardous waste while enabling sustainable production processes.

Project Details:

The project APVV-24-0455, titled Rational Design, Mutagenesis, Optimization, and Efficient Delivery of Enzymatic Antioxidants, builds on the previous project APVV-20-0284: Hybrid Fungal Heme Peroxidases from Rainforests for Use in Environmental Biotechnologies. The research involves collaboration between SAS scientists and international partners from the Netherlands, Austria, and Spain. The team aims to apply their findings on the unique catalytic properties of enzymatic antioxidants for future biotechnological applications.

Contact person: RNDr. Marcel Zámocký, DrSc., tel. 02/59307451, marcel.zamocky@savba.sk