Cited by 116Redox biology and oxidative stressPhysiological and biochemical adaptationsCancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism

Oxygen in the evolution of complex life and the price we pay

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Thannickal, Victor J.·2009·American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology

Abstract

Aerobic organisms use molecular oxygen (dioxygen; O 2 ) to generate chemical energy in the form of adenine triphosphate (ATP).Energy transforms cellular structure to function, a defining property of life.Due to its favorable thermodynamic properties, O 2 appears to have been selected during biological evolution to serve as the terminal electron acceptor in the reduction of carbon-based fuels to generate ATP by oxidative phosphorylation.That O 2 is essential to sustain human life is perhaps best illustrated during an acute cardiopulmonary arrest-commonly referred to as ''code blue'' on the medical wards.Indeed, the ''A-B-Cs'' of basic life support is to ensure gas-exchange via the lungs and O 2 delivery to internal organs: ''A'' for airway, ''B'' for breathing, and ''C'' for circulation.A less well appreciated role of O 2 is in the evolution of organismal size, multicellularity, and biological complexity.An understanding of the key role of O 2 in the evolution of complex life and mammalian physiology may provide novel insights of O 2 , and its metabolites (reactive oxygen species), in the pathophysiology of diseases that affect the lung.

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  • Oxygenation of Earth's atmosphere increased availability of molecular oxygen, whose function as an electron acceptor facilitates oxidation of organic molecules derived from carbon assimilation.

    “The oxygenation of Earth’s atmosphere over time increased the availability of molecular oxygen, whose function as an electron acceptor facilitates oxidation of organic molecules derived from carbon assimilation (21, 28).”

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Authors
Thannickal, V. J.
Affiliations
University of Michigan (US)
Corresponding author
Thannickal, Victor J.
Venue
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology
Published
2009-05-01
Volume
40
Issue
5
Pages
507-510
ISSN
  • 1044-1549 (ISSN-L)
  • 1535-4989
OpenAlex
W2095194467
Cited by
116
References
47
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 3
FWCI
1.78
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • University of Michigan
  • National Institutes of Health (HL74024, P50 HL74024)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (P50 HL 74024, P50HL074024, R01-HL-67967, R01HL067967)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Redox biology and oxidative stress
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Physiological and biochemical adaptations
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism
Keywords
molecular oxygen, aerobic metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, ATP production, terminal electron acceptors, evolution of complex life, multicellularity, reactive oxygen species, lung disease pathophysiology, cardiac arrest, mammalian physiology
MeSH terms
Aerobiosis, Animals, Cell Physiological Phenomena, Biological Evolution, Oxygen, Reactive Oxygen Species, NADPH Oxidases, Life

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