Recombinant Expression of Archaeal Superoxide Dismutases in Plant Cell Cultures: A Sustainable Solution with Potential Application in the Food Industry

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a fundamental antioxidant enzyme that neutralises superoxide ions, one of the main reactive oxygen species (ROS). Extremophile organisms possess enzymes that offer high stability and catalytic performances under a wide range of conditions, thus representing an exceptional source of biocatalysts useful for industrial processes. In this study, SODs from the thermo-halophilic Aeropyrum pernix (SOD(Ap)) and the thermo-acidophilic Saccharolobus solfataricus (SOD(Ss)) were heterologously expressed in transgenic tomato cell cultures. Cell extracts enriched with SOD(Ap) and SOD(Ss) showed a remarkable resistance to salt and low pHs, respectively, together with optimal activity at high temperatures. Moreover, the treatment of tuna fillets with SOD(Ap)-extracts induced an extension of the shelf-life of this product without resorting to the use of illicit substances. The results suggested that the recombinant plant extracts enriched with the extremozymes could find potential applications as dietary supplements in the nutrition sector or as additives in the food preservation area, representing a more natural and appealing alternative to chemical preservatives for the market.