Superoxide Dismutase Assay Kits

The High Throughput Superoxide Dismutase Assay Kit provides researchers a simple, reproducible, and fast tool for assaying Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity in cell and tissue extracts. SODs are metalloenzymes that catalyze the dismutation of the superoxide radical (O2•-) into hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and molecular oxygen (O2), providing an important defense against oxidative damage. In the Superoxide Dismutase Assay, superoxide ions are generated from the conversion of xanthine and O2 to uric acid and H2O2 by Xanthine Oxidase (XOD). The superoxide anion then coverts a tetrazolium salt into a formazan dye. Addition of SOD to this reaction reduces superoxide ion levels, thereby lowering the rate of formazan dye formation. SOD activity in the experimental sample is measured as the percent inhibition of the rate of formazan dye formation.

SOD Inhibition Assay Mechanism

XOD and SOD Antagonism in the Generation of Formazan Dye. The conversion of xanthine and O2 to uric acid and H2O2by XOD generates superoxide radicals. The superoxide anions reduce a tetrazolium salt (nitroblue tetrazolium [NBT] or WST-1) to a colored formazan product (NBT-diformazan or WST-1 formazan) that absorbs light. SOD scavenges superoxide anions, thereby reducing the rate of formazan dye formation.

HT Superoxide Dismutase Assay Kit (Catalog # 7501-500-K)

This is a 96-well microplate-based assay that is designed for the high throughput analysis of SOD in mammalian tissue and cell lysates. This kit utilizes WST-1 to detect superoxide ions generated by the XOD reaction. The superoxide radicals convert WST-1 to WST-1 formazan. Absorbance is measured at 450 nm using a standard microplate reader.

Kit Contents

  • SOD
  • SOD Reaction Buffer
  • Xanthine Oxidase
  • Xanthine Solution
  • Triton® X-100
  • WST-1 Reagent
  • 96-well Microplates

Triton is a registered trademark of Dow Chemical Corporation.