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Review
. 2018 Oct 2;38(5):BSR20171492.
doi: 10.1042/BSR20171492. Print 2018 Oct 31.

Insights into the respiratory chain and oxidative stress

Véronique Larosa  1 , Claire Remacle  2
Affiliations
Review

Insights into the respiratory chain and oxidative stress

Véronique Larosa et al. Biosci Rep. .

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive reduced oxygen molecules that result from aerobic metabolism. The common forms are the superoxide anion (O2∙-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and their derived forms, hydroxyl radical (HO∙) and hydroperoxyl radical (HOO∙). Their production sites in mitochondria are reviewed. Even though being highly toxic products, ROS seem important in transducing information from dysfunctional mitochondria. Evidences of signal transduction mediated by ROS in mitochondrial deficiency contexts are then presented in different organisms such as yeast, mammals or photosynthetic organisms.

Keywords: mitochondria; reactive oxygen species; respiratory chain.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no competing interests associated with the manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Respiratory chain and ROS production sites
Electron transport chain, composed of complex I (CI), complex II (CII), complex III (CIII), complex IV (CIV) and ATP synthase, is presented. Alternative pathways of plant and microorganisms are also shown: alternative NADH dehydrogenase facing the intermembrane space (NDe) or facing the mitochondrial matrix (NDi) and alternative oxidase (AOX). Ubiquinone pool (UQ/UQH2). Circles represent Fe–S centres, squares represent haems.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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