Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 28, 2025

Assessing Mitochondrial Function in Sciatic Nerve by High-Resolution Respirometry
Published on: May 5, 2022
The energetic cost of NNT-dependent ROS removal
Nina Kaludercic1, Fabio Di Lisa2
1Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Padova, Italy.
Abstract:
Under conditions of high nutrient availability and low ATP synthesis, mitochondria generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that must be removed to avoid cell injury. Among the enzymes involved in this scavenging process, peroxidases play a crucial role, using NADPH provided mostly by nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT). However, scarce information is available on how and to what extent ROS formation is linked to mitochondrial oxygen consumption. A new study by Smith et al. shows that NNT activity maintains low ROS levels by means of a fine modulation of mitochondrial oxygen utilization.
Related Concept Videos
Production Efficiency
Oxidation and Reduction of Organic Molecules
The removal of an electron from a molecule, results in a...
meta-Directing Deactivators: –NO2, –CN, –CHO, –⁠CO2R, –COR, –CO2H
Role of Reduced Coenzymes NADH and FADH₂
Free Energy Changes for Nonstandard States
The Nernst Equation
The interconnection between standard cell potentials and various thermodynamic parameters such as the standard free energy change ΔG° and equilibrium constant K has been previously explored. For example, a redox reaction involving zinc(II) and tin(II) ions at 1 M concentration with Eºcell = +0.291 V and ΔG° = −56.2 kJ is spontaneous.

