Isolation and nucleotide sequence of rat Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase cDNA clones.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD: EC 1.15.1.1) catalyzes the dismutation of oxygen radicals and is thought to protect cells against free radical damage. We have isolated and sequenced cDNA clones of the rat Cu/Zn SOD, and have used these clones to map the rat genomic sequences coding for this enzyme. Rat Cu/Zn SOD is coded for by a single copy gene which is transcribed into an mRNA species of approximately 800 bases. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences of rat and human SOD cDNAs shows that they are homologous over 83% of the coding sequences and that in the 3'-untranslated region the extent of homology drops to 66%. The predicted rat SOD amino acid sequence is very similar to that of other eukaryotic SODs, showing 70% homology with the SODs of other mammals. Sequence conservation is particularly high in domains believed to be of functional importance.