What is the significance of singlet oxygen?

Singlet oxygen plays crucial roles in disease development and aging processes. When there's an imbalance between antioxidant enzymes and singlet oxygen production, oxidative stress occurs. This imbalance leads to the unwanted oxidation of proteins, lipids, and DNA, contributing to disease progression. Oxidative changes to biomolecules induced by singlet oxygen have specifically been linked to diseases affecting the skin and eyes. During aging, since singlet oxygen induces oxidative modifications to these biomolecules, it contributes to cellular damage and plays an active role in the process. Singlet oxygen can also activate signal transduction pathways by modifying key enzymes, initiating a cascade of responses within cells.