[Functional roles of the plant superoxide dismutase].

Superoxide Dismutases (SODs) are ubiquitously expressed antioxidant enzyme in aerobic organisms and catalyze dismutation of superoxide anion to hydrogen and molecular oxygen, the first step in active oxygen-scavenging systems. SODs play a central role in protecting cells against the toxic effects of reactive oxygen species generated during normal cellular metabolic activity or as a result of various environmental stresses. This paper reviews the expression and regulation of Sod genes and their functional role(s) during development and in response to stresses.