Responses of Eukaryotic Cells to Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress is implicated in a number of diseases, in ageing of organisms, and in damage to plants that have been exposed to freezing and thawing or water stress. From the perspective of yeast as a model eukaryotic system, this article reviews the systems that are involved in the cellular responses to exposure to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during aerobic growth of the organism. The discussion includes the defense systems involved, the ability of cells to adapt to ROS treatment, cell-division cycle delay and the systems regulating gene expression that are activated by oxidative stress.