Cited by 1,616Mitochondrial Function and PathologyCardiac Ischemia and ReperfusionRedox biology and oxidative stress

Production of Reactive Oxygen Species by Mitochondria

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Chen, Qun, Vazquez, Edwin J., Moghaddas, Shadi, Hoppel, Charles L., Lesnefsky, Edward J.·2003·Journal of Biological Chemistry

Abstract

The mitochondrial respiratory chain is a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under pathological conditions including myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. Limitation of electron transport by the inhibitor rotenone immediately before ischemia decreases the production of ROS in cardiac myocytes and reduces damage to mitochondria. We asked if ROS generation by intact mitochondria during the oxidation of complex I substrates (glutamate, pyruvate/malate) occurred from complex I or III. ROS production by mitochondria of Sprague-Dawley rat hearts and corresponding submitochondrial particles was studied. ROS were measured as H2O2 using the amplex red assay. In mitochondria oxidizing complex I substrates, rotenone inhibition did not increase H2O2. Oxidation of complex I or II substrates in the presence of antimycin A markedly increased H2O2. Rotenone prevented antimycin A-induced H2O2 production in mitochondria with complex I substrates but not with complex II substrates. Catalase scavenged H2O2. In contrast to intact mitochondria, blockade of complex I with rotenone markedly increased H2O2 production from submitochondrial particles oxidizing the complex I substrate NADH. ROS are produced from complex I by the NADH dehydrogenase located in the matrix side of the inner membrane and are dissipated in mitochondria by matrix antioxidant defense. However, in submitochondrial particles devoid of antioxidant defense ROS from complex I are available for detection. In mitochondria, complex III is the principal site for ROS generation during the oxidation of complex I substrates, and rotenone protects by limiting electron flow into complex III.

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Crossref · 10.1074/jbc.m304854200

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  • Antimycin A inhibition of complex III leads to formation of toxic ROS.

    “Moreover, toxic ROS are formed52.”
  • The electron transport chain in the mitochondria can be a major source of superoxide production.

    “The electron transport chain in the mitochondria can be a major source of superoxide production [46,47].”

    From Asbestos and Iron (2023) · cites this paper as [46]

  • In coupled mitochondria and submitochondrial particles, high ROS production with saturating succinate is largely attributable to complex I via reverse electron transfer from complex II, because it is sensitive to complex I inhibitors, requires high membrane potential, and does not occur in uncoupled submitochondrial particles.

    “In coupled mitochondria and SMP, high ROS production is observed under these conditions, but this can be largely attributed to complex I due to reverse electron transfer from complex II, since (i) it is sensitive to complex I inhibitors like rotenone [18][19][20]24,91,92], (ii) requires a high membrane potential, i.e. is sensitive to uncouplers and ionophores [15,[18][19][20]91] or ADP (that”
  • In the IMS, leaked electrons react with O2 to generate ROS, which reach the cytosol.

    “In the IMS, leaked electrons react with O2 to generate ROS, which reach the cytosol [30,109,121,125,423].”

    From Functions of ROS in Macrophages and Antimicrobial Immunity (2021) · cites this paper as [423]

  • Although nonmitochondrial sources of ROS exist during ischemia, the majority of ROS are likely derived from the mitochondrial respiratory complexes.

    “Although nonmitochondrial sources of ROS exist during ischemia [e.g., NAD(P)H oxidase (141, 188, 328) and xanthine oxidase (25) in vasculature], the majority of ROS are likely derived from the mitochondrial respiratory complexes, as shown by the damage to respiratory complexes (212, 213, 245) and the effect of mitochondrial inhibitors (5, 28, 71, 81–86).”

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Authors
Chen, Q., Vazquez, E. J., Moghaddas, S., Hoppel, C. L., & Lesnefsky, E. J.
Affiliations
  • Xuzhou Medical College (CN)
  • Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author
Lesnefsky, Edward J.
Venue
Journal of Biological Chemistry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2003-09
Volume
278
Issue
38
Pages
36027-36031
ISSN
0021-9258 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2026525843
Cited by
1,616
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 35 · 2025: 62 · 2024: 57 · 2023: 43 · 2022: 68 · 2021: 84 · 2020: 81 · 2019: 79 · 2018: 69 · 2017: 82 · 2016: 86 · 2015: 98 · 2014: 92 · 2013: 75 · 2012: 87
FWCI
19.19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Biological Chemistry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5k04ag000676-05)
  • National Institute on Aging (1P0 AG15885, 1K04 AG-00676)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Cardiac Ischemia and Reperfusion
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Redox biology and oxidative stress
Keywords
reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial respiratory chain, complex I, cytochrome bc1 complex, rotenone, antimycin A, hydrogen peroxide, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, NADH dehydrogenase, submitochondrial particles, catalase, glutamate oxidation
MeSH terms
Animals, Antioxidants, Binding Sites, Catalase, Electron Transport, Electrons, Hydrogen Peroxide, Ischemia, Male, Mitochondria, Models, Biological, Myocardium, NAD, NADH Dehydrogenase, Oxygen, Phosphorylation, Rotenone, Electron Transport Complex III, Reperfusion Injury, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Reactive Oxygen Species, Succinic Acid, Myocytes, Cardiac, Rats

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