A previously unrecognized feed-forward mechanism of reactive-oxygen-species regulation has been discovered. Regulation of oxidative stress is critical to cell survival. Oxidative stress occurs when a cell is not able to adequately remove reactive oxygen species (ROS), or reactive molecules that result from the metabolism of oxygen. To alleviate these toxically high levels of ROS, cells activate NF-E2-related transcription factor 2 (Nrf2), which normally resides in the cytoplasm. Under conditions of oxidative stress, however, Nrf2 relocates to the nucleus, where it induces transcription of antioxidant genes.
