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Updated: Jul 9, 2026
09:27
Isolation and Functional Analysis of Mitochondria from Cultured Cells and Mouse Tissue
Published on: March 23, 2015
Does nitric oxide modulate mitochondrial energy generation and apoptosis?
Salvador Moncada1, Jorge D Erusalimsky
1The Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK. s.moncada@ucl.ac.uk
Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology
|May 8, 2002
Summary
Nitric oxide (NO) regulates respiration and mitochondrial function. This review explores how NO interacts with the electron-transport chain to influence reactive oxygen species production, impacting cell survival or death.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Mitochondrial Biology
- Cellular Signaling
Background:
- Nitric oxide (NO) is crucial for vascular tone, synaptic transmission, and cellular defense.
- Emerging evidence suggests NO significantly impacts mitochondrial function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of nitric oxide in mitochondrial function.
- To explore NO's interaction with the electron-transport chain.
- To examine NO's influence on reactive oxygen species generation and cell fate.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing research on nitric oxide and mitochondria.
- Analysis of studies detailing NO's interaction with the electron-transport chain.
- Synthesis of findings on NO-mediated reactive oxygen species production.
Main Results:
- Nitric oxide acts as a physiological regulator of cellular respiration.
- NO augments mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation through interaction with the electron-transport chain.
- This interaction can trigger pathways leading to cell survival or cell death.
Conclusions:
- Nitric oxide plays a multifaceted role in mitochondrial bioenergetics.
- NO's modulation of mitochondrial respiration and reactive oxygen species is critical for cellular homeostasis.
- Understanding NO-mitochondria interactions is key to deciphering cell survival and death mechanisms.
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