The effect of PSOD expression on lacZ-sodP fusion (pYK4) was explored in Escherichia coli sodA sodB mutants (QC774) under oxidative stress. In this system, although .betha.-galactosidase activity was not fully induced by isopropyl-1-thio-.betha.-galactosidase (IPTG) and was inhibited by glucose, functional PSOD was under lacZ promotor control and was induced by IPTC, lactose, PQ and copper isons, finally, the results show that higher PSOD expression leel was consistently importnat in defending against superoxide radicals.