Singlet oxygen refers to a highly reactive form of oxygen that is often created when regular oxygen molecules become highly energized. It can cause damage to cells and molecules in our bodies. Full definition
By applying millisecond laser light pulses to HCN channels tagged with a fluorescent photosensitizer, Zhou and colleagues were able to elicit the production of small amounts of singlet oxygen in a precise location and monitor its effects on the channels in open and closed states. (sciencedaily.com)
While at BTI, the Apel lab discovered the impacts of singlet oxygen in plant stress responses and its importance in signaling. (btiscience.org)
By modeling the reaction, they concluded that the initial energy burst could come from ultraviolet (UV) light, which produces energetic oxygen called singlet oxygen when it breaks up water molecules. (sciencemag.org)