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Related Concept Videos

Peroxisomes01:24

Peroxisomes

Peroxisomes are specialized organelles present in fungi, plant, and animal cells. It can vary in number, size, morphology, and activity depending on the type of tissue and the nutritional state of the cell. For example, cells with active lipid metabolism, such as adipocytes, neurons, and hepatocytes, have more peroxisomes than other cells in the body. Besides their primary role in breaking down complex organic molecules, peroxisomes can also synthesize specific macromolecules and participate in...
Autoxidation of Ethers to Peroxides and Hydroperoxides02:23

Autoxidation of Ethers to Peroxides and Hydroperoxides

Ethers represent a class of chemical compounds that become more dangerous with prolonged storage because they tend to form explosive peroxides when standing in the air. Autoxidation is the spontaneous oxidation of a compound in air. In the presence of oxygen, ethers slowly oxidize to form hydroperoxides and dialkyl peroxides.
Radical Formation: Homolysis00:54

Radical Formation: Homolysis

A bond is formed between two atoms by sharing two electrons. When this bond is broken by supplying sufficient energy, either two electrons can be taken up by one atom forming ions by the cleavage called heterolysis, or the two electrons are shared by two atoms, with one each creating radicals by the cleavage called homolysis.
Oxidation of Phenols to Quinones01:17

Oxidation of Phenols to Quinones

In the presence of oxidizing agents, phenols are oxidized to quinones. Quinones can be easily reduced back to phenols using mild reducing agents. The electron-donating hydroxyl group enhances the reactivity of the aromatic ring, enabling oxidation of the ring even in the absence of an α hydrogen.
o-hydroxy phenols are oxidized to o-quinones and p-hydroxy phenols to p-quinones. Such redox reactions involve the transfer of two electrons and two protons. The reversible redox property is crucial in...
Oxidation of Alkenes: Anti Dihydroxylation with Peroxy Acids02:04

Oxidation of Alkenes: Anti Dihydroxylation with Peroxy Acids

Diols are compounds with two hydroxyl groups. In addition to syn dihydroxylation, diols can also be synthesized through the process of anti dihydroxylation. The process involves treating an alkene with a peroxycarboxylic acid to form an epoxide. Epoxides are highly strained three-membered rings with oxygen and two carbons occupying the corners of an equilateral triangle. This step is followed by ring-opening of the epoxide in the presence of an aqueous acid to give a trans diol.
Regioselectivity of Electrophilic Additions-Peroxide Effect02:35

Regioselectivity of Electrophilic Additions-Peroxide Effect

In the presence of organic peroxides, the addition of hydrogen bromide to an alkene yields the isomer that is not predicted by Markovnikov’s rule. For example, the addition of hydrogen bromide to 2-methylpropene in the presence of peroxides gives 1-bromo-2-methylpropane. This addition reaction proceeds via a free radical mechanism, which reverses the regioselectivity. The free radical reaction mechanism involves three stages: initiation, propagation, and termination.

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Updated: May 28, 2026

Imaging of mtHyPer7, a Ratiometric Biosensor for Mitochondrial Peroxide, in Living Yeast Cells
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Hydrogen peroxide: a Jekyll and Hyde signalling molecule.

D R Gough1, T G Cotter

  • 1Tumour Biology Laboratory, Biochemistry Department, Bioscience Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.

Cell Death & Disease
|October 7, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), like hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), can be destructive or act as signaling molecules. Their dual role depends on cellular context, influencing cell survival or damage.

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Published on: February 7, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Signaling

Background:

  • Reactive oxygen species (ROS), including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), are cellular metabolites traditionally viewed as damaging agents.
  • Established roles in phagocytosis and genomic instability reinforce the perception of ROS as non-specific destructive molecules.
  • Emerging research highlights H₂O₂'s function as a crucial intracellular signaling molecule at physiological concentrations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the dualistic nature of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), examining its pro-survival versus deleterious cellular effects.
  • To investigate how subcellular source, location, and duration influence the diverse functions of ROS.
  • To elucidate the factors governing H₂O₂'s role in cellular processes like proliferation, migration, anoikis, survival, and autophagy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent advances in ROS detection and quantification.
  • Analysis of studies investigating H₂O₂ signaling pathways.
  • Examination of research linking ROS levels to cellular outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) functions as a classical signaling molecule regulating kinase pathways at lower physiological levels.
  • ROS are implicated in diverse biological functions including proliferation, migration, anoikis, survival, and autophagy.
  • The specific cellular impact of ROS is contingent upon their subcellular origin, localization, and temporal dynamics.

Conclusions:

  • The cellular outcome of H₂O₂ activity is context-dependent, acting as either a pro-survival factor or a detrimental agent.
  • Understanding the spatiotemporal regulation of ROS is key to deciphering their complex biological roles.
  • Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the mechanisms governing H₂O₂'s paradoxical functions.