title: Mitochondrial generation of free radicals and hypoxic signaling.
abstract: Most reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated in cells by the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Mitochondrial ROS production is modulated largely by the rate of electron flow through respiratory chain complexes. Recently, it has become clear that under hypoxic conditions, the mitochondrial respiratory chain also produces nitric oxide (NO), which can generate other reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Although excess ROS and RNS can lead to oxidative and nitrosative stress, moderate to low levels of both function in cellular signaling pathways. Especially important are the roles of these mitochondrially generated free radicals in hypoxic signaling pathways, which have important implications for cancer, inflammation and a variety of other diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. Robert.Poyton@colorado.edu
authors.forename: Robert O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Poyton
authors.forename: Kerri A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: Pablo R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Castello
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000502:physiology*; D004579:Electron Transport / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000502:physiology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D009569:Nitric Oxide