Free Radicals and Iron: Chemistry, Biology, and Medicine

Free Radicals and Iron: Chemistry, Biology, and Medicine

Iron is essential to most aerobic life-forms, facilitating transfer of both electrons and oxygen. It forms the active centre of many oxidases and oxygenases, and several anti-oxidants. The authors present a chemical and biomedical perspective of how reactions of iron complexes and free radicals may contribute to human health and disease, especially in reactions of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. Iron is discussed in terms of valence, high- and low- spin complexes, ligands - notably haem, oxygen, and nitric oxide-, its role in oxygen activation, and its transport, storage, and utilization, especially in humans. The link between iron and free radicals, especially via Fenton chemistry, and the central role of these reactions is discussed. Free Radicals and Iron: Chemistry, Biology and Medicine is an accessible and comprehensive text describing a variety of reactions of iron in biological free-radical reactions. It presents both chemical and biochemical perspective, and should appeal to scientists and medical workers from many disciplines. Martyn Symons is at DeMontfort University. John Gutteridge is at Royal Brompton Hospital.