Fsd1, or iron superoxide dismutase 1, is an enzyme with diverse functions. In plants like Arabidopsis, it acts as an antioxidant enzyme in plastids, cytoplasm, and nuclei, playing roles in osmoprotection and response to oxidative stress [1,4]. In mammals, it has functions related to cell structure and development. For example, in glioblastoma, it inhibits diffuse infiltration through regulating microtubule deacetylation [2].

In Arabidopsis, fsd1 mutants show reduced capacity to decompose superoxide at low Cu2+ concentrations, and prolonged exposure to methyl viologen leads to reduced ascorbate levels and higher protein carbonylation compared to the wild type [1]. These mutants also have higher levels of chloroplastic proteases, indicating altered protein turnover in chloroplasts [1]. In glioblastoma, decreased Fsd1 expression in tissues correlates with microtubule deacetylation and poor clinical outcomes, and increased Fsd1 expression or interference with its phosphorylation can suppress invasion of glioblastoma stem cells [2]. In vertebrates, knockdown of Fsd1 causes defective ciliogenesis and affects embryonic development [3].

In summary, Fsd1 is crucial for maintaining redox homeostasis in plants under oxidative stress and has important implications in controlling glioblastoma cell invasion and ciliogenesis in animals. The study of Fsd1 using gene knockout models in these systems has provided valuable insights into its functions in specific biological processes and disease conditions.

References:

1. Melicher, Pavol, Dvořák, Petr, Krasylenko, Yuliya, Šamaj, Jozef, Takáč, Tomáš. 2022. Arabidopsis Iron Superoxide Dismutase FSD1 Protects Against Methyl Viologen-Induced Oxidative Stress in a Copper-Dependent Manner. In Frontiers in plant science, 13, 823561. doi:10.3389/fpls.2022.823561. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35360337/

2. Xiao, Dake, Ran, Haowen, Chen, Lishu, Li, Ailing, Man, Jianghong. 2025. FSD1 inhibits glioblastoma diffuse infiltration through restriction of HDAC6-mediated microtubule deacetylation. In Science China. Life sciences, 68, 673-688. doi:10.1007/s11427-024-2616-7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39808222/

3. Tu, Hai-Qing, Qin, Xuan-He, Liu, Zhi-Bin, Zhang, Xue-Min, Li, Hui-Yan. 2018. Microtubule asters anchored by FSD1 control axoneme assembly and ciliogenesis. In Nature communications, 9, 5277. doi:10.1038/s41467-018-07664-2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30538248/

4. Dvořák, Petr, Krasylenko, Yuliya, Ovečka, Miroslav, Šamaj, Jozef, Takáč, Tomáš. 2020. In vivo light-sheet microscopy resolves localisation patterns of FSD1, a superoxide dismutase with function in root development and osmoprotection. In Plant, cell & environment, 44, 68-87. doi:10.1111/pce.13894. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32974958/