Mitochondrial Antioxidants and the Maintenance of Cellular Hydrogen Peroxide Levels

For over 40 years, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and balance has been studied in the context of oxidative distress and tissue damage. However, research over the past decade has demonstrated that the mitochondria have a more complicated relationship with ROS. Superoxide (O-2 (center dot-)) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are the proximal ROS formed by the mitochondria, and the latter molecule is used as a secondary messenger to coordinate oxidative metabolism with changes in cell physiology. Like any other secondary messenger, H2O2 levels need to be regulated through its production and degradation and the mitochondria are enriched with the antioxidant defenses required to degrade ROS formed by nutrient oxidation and respiration. Recent work has also demonstrated that these antioxidant systems also carry the capacity to clear H2O2 formed outside of mitochondria. These observations led to the development of the postulate that the mitochondria serve as ROS stabilizing devices that buffer cellular H2O2 levels. Here, I provide an updated view on mitochondrial ROS homeostasis and discuss the ROS stabilizing function of the mitochondria in mammalian cells. This will be followed by a hypothetical discussion on the potential function of the mitochondria and proton motive force in degrading cellular H2O2 signals emanating from cytosolic enzymes.