Mitochondrial superoxide anion production and release into intermembrane space
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Updated: Sep 29, 2026

Simultaneous Measurement of Superoxide/Hydrogen Peroxide and NADH Production by Flavin-containing Mitochondrial Dehydrogenases
Published on: February 24, 2018
Derick Han1, Fernando Antunes, Francesca Daneri
1Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA.
Abstract:
The topological distribution of ubiquinone in the mitochondrial respiratory chain suggests that both ubiquinone pools may participate in O2.- production and, hence, are vectorially released into the matrix and intermembrane space. Mitoplasts, obtained by either digitonin or hypotonic KCl treatment, are a suitable experimental model for measuring O2.- in the intermembrane space. The use of membrane-impermeable spin-broadening agents strengthens the notion that part of the O2.- generated by the respiratory chain may be released into the intermembrane space. This, together with the putative occurrence of a Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase in this compartment may account for part of H2O2 released by mitochondria and contributing to a cytosolic steady-state level of this species in cytosol.
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