TUMOR SUPPRESSION BY MANGANESE SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE - A NOVEL FUNCTION OF MNSOD - A COMMENTARY

Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is a nuclear-encoded primary an tioxidant enzyme in the mitochondria. The known function of MnSOD is t o remove superoxide radicals generated in the mitochondria. Given the recent explosion of evidence linking the role of MnSOD to the suppress ion of cancer, it has been proposed that MnSOD might function as a new type of tumor suppressor gene. Considering the role of free radicals in carcinogenesis, the significance of oxidative stress in the mitocho ndria, and the involvement of MnSOD in tumor suppression, the author p roposes a reconciliation of the antioxidant function of MnSOD with its tumor suppression function. The focus of this report is to present so me of the evidence supporting this idea.