Protection of mitochondrial integrity from oxidative stress by selenium-containing glutathione transferase.

The antioxidant activity of a novel artificial glutathione peroxidase-like enzyme, selenium-containing glutathione 5-transferase from Lucilia cuprina (seleno-LuGST1-1), was studied by using a ferrous sulfate/ascorbate-induced mitochondrial damage model system. Swelling of mitochondria, lipid peroxidation, and cytochrome-c oxidase activity were selected to evaluate the preservation of mitochondrial integrity in this system. Seleno-LuGST1-1 could effectively protect the mitochondria against oxidative damage in a dose-dependent manner and exhibited both higher catalytic activity and greater antioxidant ability than the classic mimic, 2-phenyl-1,2-benziososelenazol-3(2H)-one (Ebselen). This novel artificial biocatalyst therefore may have great potential for pharmacologic application in the treatment of reactive oxygen species-related diseases.