ROS generation begins with the formation of O2−, which is produced by 1-electron reduction of molecular oxygen (O2). The first line of cellular defense against high O2− levels is dismutation of O2− into O2 and H2O2 by SOD. In the presence of nitric oxide (NO), O2− can more rapidly react with NO than with SOD to form ONOO−, a highly reactive ROS species. In lymphoma cells, downregulation of SOD1 expression increases intracellular ONOO− formation by reacting with NO, which is formed from arginine by NOSs. ONOO− can nitrate Y289 of B56 and leads to the dissociation of the PP2A-AC heterodimer from the Bcl-2–bound B56δ subunit of PP2A, resulting in the enhanced phosphorylation of Bcl-2 S70. This may confer resistance to drug-induced cell death. NOS, NO synthase.