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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Mitochondrial Respiration Quantification in Yeast Whole Cells
Published on: November 8, 2024
Mitochondrial targeting of quinones: therapeutic implications
Helena M Cochemé1, Geoffrey F Kelso, Andrew M James
1MRC Dunn Human Nutrition Unit, Wellcome Trust/MRC Building, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2XY, UK.
Abstract:
Mitochondrial oxidative damage contributes to a range of degenerative diseases. Ubiquinones have been shown to protect mitochondria from oxidative damage, but only a small proportion of externally administered ubiquinone is taken up by mitochondria. Conjugation of the lipophilic triphenylphosphonium cation to a ubiquinone moiety has produced a compound, MitoQ, which accumulates selectively into mitochondria. MitoQ passes easily through all biological membranes and, because of its positive charge, is accumulated several hundred-fold within mitochondria driven by the mitochondrial membrane potential. MitoQ protects mitochondria against oxidative damage in vitro and following oral delivery, and may therefore form the basis for mitochondria-protective therapies.
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