Production of H2O2 in mitochondria: action of various sulfhydryl reagents
Marzulli, D.; Lofrumento, N.E.
Bollettino della Societa Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale 61(9): 1239-1246
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-8771 PMID: 4074535 Document Number: 262539
In mitochondria generation of hydrogen peroxide is mediated by the activity of the respiratory chain and represents, for the reduction of molecular oxygen, the alternate pathways to the main one leading to the formation of H2O2 coupled to ATP synthesis. With succinate as respiratory substrate, it has been found that, in rat liver mitochondria the rate of H2O2 production is greatly stimulated by N-ethylmaelimide (NEM) and inhibited by mersalyl. In spite of the differential effect of the sulfhydryl reagents tested, evidence has been obtained suggesting that SH groups are involved in the H2O2 generating system. Among other has been considered, as working hypothesis, the possibility that the NEM stimulating effect on H2O2 formation may be correlated to the increase on the oxidation of all the respiratory intermediates, promoted by NEM but not by mersalyl and reported in previous paper.