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Physiologic and Pathologic Functions of Mitochondrial ROS

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Mitochondria and Cell Death

Part of the book series: Cell Death in Biology and Diseases ((CELLDEATH))

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Abstract

Metabolic oxidation–reduction (redox) reactions occurring in mitochondria and other organelles govern the flow of electrons through complex higher order biological structures that play pivotal roles in all normal cellular functions. In normal healthy mammalian cells, there is delicate nonequilibrium steady-state relationship between the relatively low fluxes of metabolic prooxidant production (such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide) that is balanced by a much greater reductive capacity (through antioxidant pathways) that maintain the cell in a highly reducing environment. When this redox balance is disrupted from its normal steady-state oscillations due to increased fluxes of prooxidants and/or decreased antioxidant capacity, oxidative stress can occur. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) represent a group of chemically diverse molecules derived from the formation of superoxide (O2 •−). ROS contain oxygen and their metabolic formation occurs predominantly during mitochondrial respiration, by the action of oxidoreductase enzymes, and during peroxisomal/microsomal metabolism. This chapter will focus on mitochondrial ROS production, targets of mitochondrial ROS, cellular approaches to control ROS, ROS and cancer, as well as ROS and aging.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Gareth Smith for assistance with manuscript preparation and graphics. Funding to B.G.A. was provided by the American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (JF2014-1). Funding to D.R.S. was provided by the National Institutes of Health (R01 CA182804).

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Correspondence to Bryan G. Allen M.D., Ph.D. .

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© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Allen, B.G., Spitz, D.R. (2016). Physiologic and Pathologic Functions of Mitochondrial ROS. In: Hockenbery, D. (eds) Mitochondria and Cell Death. Cell Death in Biology and Diseases. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3612-0_6

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