Laboratory of Biomolecular Engineering

Cellular components in aerobic organisms are often confronted with reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS may damage various biomolecules, such as DNA, proteins, and lipids, and may contribute to the development of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and other maladies. It also accelerates aging. Sulfur-containing amino acids including methionine are the major targets of ROS and thus the amino acids most susceptible to oxidation. Up-to-date, many enzymes such as Mical and Msr are known to be involved in oxidation and reduction of methionine and methionine sulfoxide, respectively.