Cited by 200Redox biology and oxidative stressMitochondrial Function and PathologyGlutathione Transferases and Polymorphisms

Glutathione/thioredoxin systems modulate mitochondrial H2O2 emission: An experimental-computational study

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Aon, Miguel Antonio, Stanley, Brian Alan, Sivakumaran, Vidhya, Kembro, Jackelyn Melissa, O'Rourke, Brian, Paolocci, Nazareno, Cortassa, Sonia·2012·Journal of General Physiology

Abstract

The net emission of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) from mitochondria results from the balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) continuously generated in the respiratory chain and ROS scavenging. The relative contribution of the two major antioxidant systems in the mitochondrial matrix, glutathione (GSH) and thioredoxin (Trx), has not been assessed. In this paper, we examine this key question via combined experimental and theoretical approaches, using isolated heart mitochondria from mouse, rat, and guinea pig. As compared with untreated control mitochondria, selective inhibition of Trx reductase with auranofin along with depletion of GSH with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene led to a species-dependent increase in H2O2 emission flux of 17, 11, and 6 fold in state 4 and 15, 7, and 8 fold in state 3 for mouse, rat, and guinea pig mitochondria, respectively. The maximal H2O2 emission as a percentage of the total O2 consumption flux was 11%/2.3% for mouse in states 4 and 3 followed by 2%/0.25% and 0.74%/0.29% in the rat and guinea pig, respectively. A minimal computational model accounting for the kinetics of GSH/Trx systems was developed and was able to simulate increase in H2O2 emission fluxes when both scavenging systems were inhibited separately or together. Model simulations suggest that GSH/Trx systems act in concert. When the scavenging capacity of either one of them saturates during H2O2 overload, they relieve each other until complete saturation, when maximal ROS emission occurs. Quantitatively, these results converge on the idea that GSH/Trx scavenging systems in mitochondria are both essential for keeping minimal levels of H2O2 emission, especially during state 3 respiration, when the energetic output is maximal. This suggests that the very low levels of H2O2 emission observed during forward electron transport in the respiratory chain are a result of the well-orchestrated actions of the two antioxidant systems working continuously to offset ROS production.

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  • A small proportion (~2-11%) of electrons entering the ETC escape from the chain at complex I or III to generate superoxide.

    “Although the majority of electrons entering the ETC ultimately reduce oxygen to water at complex IV, a small proportion (~2–11%) of electrons escape from the chain at complex I or III to generate superoxide (34, 115, 678).”

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Authors
Aon, M. A., Stanley, B. A., Sivakumaran, V., Kembro, J. M., O'Rourke, B., Paolocci, N., & Cortassa, S.
Affiliations
Johns Hopkins University (US)
Corresponding author
Cortassa, Sonia
Venue
Journal of General Physiology
Published
2012-05-14
Volume
139
Issue
6
Pages
479-491
ISSN
  • 0022-1295 (ISSN-L)
  • 1540-7748
OpenAlex
W2131211730
Cited by
200
References
71
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 3
FWCI
7.32
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Journal of General Physiology (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Padua Research Archive (University of Padova) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • Americanae (AECID Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
Funders
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R37-HL-54598, R37HL054598, R01HL091923, R21HL106054, P01HL107153)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Redox biology and oxidative stress
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Glutathione Transferases and Polymorphisms
Keywords
glutathione, thioredoxin, thioredoxin reductase, auranofin, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, reactive oxygen species scavenging, electron transport chain, state 3 respiration, state 4 respiration, species differences, antioxidant defense
MeSH terms
Animals, Antioxidants, Electron Transport, Glutathione, Guinea Pigs, Hydrogen Peroxide, Kinetics, Mitochondria, Heart, Models, Theoretical, Thioredoxins, Reactive Oxygen Species, Cell Respiration, Mice, Rats

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