Antioxidant function of recombinant human natural killer enhancing factor.

Natural killer enhancing factor (NKEF) is a member of a new class of highly conserved antioxidant proteins. Members of this family have been described as thiol-specific antioxidants. In this study, we show that recombinant proteins encoded by the two human NKEF genes (nkef-A and B) possess antioxidant function in the protection of protein and DNA from oxidative damage. The production of separate proteins from each of the genes encoding NKEF is an important step in the elucidation of its function.