What reaction generates ROS from hydrogen peroxide?

What reaction generates ROS from hydrogen peroxide?

• A. Krebs cycle
• B. Glycolysis
• C. Electron transport chain
• D. Fenton reaction

Answer: (D)

Fenton chemistry shows how hydrogen peroxide becomes a highly reactive oxygen species. When ferrous iron (Fe2+) encounters hydrogen peroxide, it donates an electron to H2O2, producing ferric iron (Fe3+), a hydroxyl radical, and a hydroxide ion. The hydroxyl radical is extremely reactive and can damage lipids, proteins, and DNA. This reaction is the direct way H2O2 is converted into a ROS. The other options are metabolic pathways that don’t perform this specific conversion. The electron transport chain can generate ROS as byproducts, but not by a primary reaction that turns hydrogen peroxide into hydroxyl radicals in one step.

Fenton chemistry shows how hydrogen peroxide becomes a highly reactive oxygen species. When ferrous iron (Fe2+) encounters hydrogen peroxide, it donates an electron to H2O2, producing ferric iron (Fe3+), a hydroxyl radical, and a hydroxide ion. The hydroxyl radical is extremely reactive and can damage lipids, proteins, and DNA. This reaction is the direct way H2O2 is converted into a ROS. The other options are metabolic pathways that don’t perform this specific conversion. The electron transport chain can generate ROS as byproducts, but not by a primary reaction that turns hydrogen peroxide into hydroxyl radicals in one step.