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Abstract
The interest in reactive electrophile species (RES) stems largely from the fact that
they can have powerful biological activities. RES stimulate the expression of cell
survival genes as well many other genes commonly upregulated in environmental stress
and pathogenesis. RES levels must be carefully controlled in healthy cells but their
formation and destruction during stress is of great interest. Unlike many 'classical'
signals and hormones, RES can potentially affect gene expression at all levels by
chemically reacting with nucleic acids, proteins and small molecules as well as by
indirectly lowering pools of cellular reductants. Recent works involving genetic approaches
have begun to provide compelling evidence that, although excess RES production can
lead to cell damage, lower levels of RES may modulate the expression of cell survival
genes and may actually contribute to survival during severe stress.