Superoxide dismutase in Arabidopsis and Chlamydomonas: diversity, localization, regulation, and role

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an essential enzyme that protects cells from oxidative stress and maintains redox balance. Many studies have explored the role of SOD in various genotypes of algae and plants, but a comprehensive review of the current literature is still lacking.

This review investigates the different SOD isoforms and their roles in adapting and surviving under stressful environmental conditions. We focus on two model organisms: the higher plant Arabidopsis and the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas. We show that different plant and algal genotypes have unique SOD classes with different metal cofactors, such as Cu/Zn, Mn, and Fe, that help them deal with specific stress conditions. The activity of each SOD class depends on the availability of these metals in the cells. Moreover, we discuss how alternative splicing, RNA-binding proteins, microRNAs, and DNA methylation can influence the expression of SOD genes and highlight the gaps in our knowledge of their mechanisms.

We suggest that future studies should explore the genes related to Ni-SOD, examine their potential transfer into algae and legumes, and consider the consequences of SOD overactivity in plant cells.