FIG. 1.
Biochemistry of oxygen radical formation via the peroxynitrite pathway and the dismutation/Fenton reaction pathway. Nomenclature: CO2 = carbon dioxide; •CO3 = carbonate radical; Fe2+ = ferrous iron; Fe3+ = ferric iron; GSH PX = glutathione peroxidase; H+ = proton; H2O2 = hydrogen peroxide; Hb = hemoglobin; NO• = nitric oxide or nitrogen monoxide; •NO2 = nitrogen dioxide; O-.2 = superoxide radical; •OH = hydroxyl radical; ONOO- = peroxynitrite anion; ONOOCO-2 = nitrosoperoxocarbonate; ONOOH = peroxynitrous acid; PG = prostaglandin; SOD = superoxide dismutase.