Mechanisms of formation of free radicals in biological catalysis

Abstract

A large number of selective metabolic reactions involve intermediate free radicals. To do so, enzymatic systems rely upon a great variety of efficient radical sources, such as adenosylcobalamin, S-adenosylmethionine and oxygen for reaction initiation. In most cases, activation depends on a metallocofactor. The review article focuses on some of these chemical mechanisms for biological radical generation.