This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Pproctor (talk | contribs) at 21:21, 4 April 2006. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 21:21, 4 April 2006 by Pproctor (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Redox signaling is the concept that free radicals and other electronically-activated species act as messengers in biological systems.
History: While it continues to be controversial, the concept of electronically-activated species as messengers in both normal metabolism and in pathogenesis goes back to the 19th century. E.g., the biological pigment melanin is a stable free radical. Darwin noted that white blued-eyed cats are usually deaf and that this may be secondary to some defect in neuronal development secondary to the absence of melanin pigment. Similarly, it has been known for centuries that radical-generating transition-series metals such as interocular copper or iron may produce massive vitreous fibrosis (scaring) as they oxidize.