Superoxide Dismutase from Lens esculenta: Purification and Properties.

Superoxide dismutase has been purified to homogeneity from Lens esculenta cotyledons and shoots. The two forms appeared to be identical. The purified enzyme contained two electrophoretically distinct bands. It contained two ions of Cu and two ions of Zn. Gel filtration experiments indicate a molecular weight of about 33,000. The spectrum of ultraviolet and visible regions and electron paramagnetic resonance were similar to those of Cu-Zn mammalian superoxide dismutase.