title: Mitochondria, oxidants, and aging.
abstract: The free radical theory of aging postulates that the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species is the major determinant of life span. Numerous cell culture, invertebrate, and mammalian models exist that lend support to this half-century-old hypothesis. Here we review the evidence that both supports and conflicts with the free radical theory and examine the growing link between mitochondrial metabolism, oxidant formation, and the biology of aging.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cardiac Energetics, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Balaban
authors.forename: Shino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nemoto
authors.forename: Toren
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Finkel
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D016877:Oxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015003:Yeasts
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D016877:Oxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species