Scientists Track How H2O2 Keeps Cells Healthy

In a report out of Winston Salem, MA,
scientists say claim to have figured out
how hydrogen peroxide is produced in the
human body to assist in keeping cells
healthy when bacteria levels elevate.

“The report by a team of researchers at
Wake Forest University School of Medicine,
published in the journal Nature, said large
amounts of hydrogen peroxide are produced
when the immune system is activated in
response to bacteria.

The team used X-ray crystallography to
create a three-dimensional snapshot of
how the proteins interact.

Scientists said a molecule known as
peroxiredoxin (Prx) helps control levels
of hydrogen peroxide. If levels of hydrogen
peroxide become too high, the cell’s DNA
and other proteins can be damaged.

“It basically acts as a sensor and warns the
cell that levels are too high and that the cell
needs to respond,” lead author Thomas J.
Jonsson said in a news release. “Once that
threat is gone, Prx needs to go back to its
normal state.”

Prx becomes active again by binding with a
protein known as sulfiredoxin, the report said.”

Remarkably,these complex processes in our
own bodies can produce, balance and even
perfectly control the levels of H2O2 in our own
cells to maintain a healthy internal environment.

If only we were as clever as our own cells when
it comes to healthy external environments! Surely
we are beginning to see how all natural processes
work together to maintain balance. The more we
learn, the better able we will be at extending these
lessons outward into the world of our human
activities and processes.

Posted: March 12th, 2008 under Blog.