Mitochondrial Complex II Can Generate Reactive Oxygen Species at High Rates in Both the Forward and Reverse Reactions

Respiratory complex II oxidizes succinate to fumarate as part of the Krebs cycle and reduces ubiquinone in the electron transport chain. Previous experimental evidence suggested that complex II is not a significant contributor to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in isolated mitochondria or intact cells unless mutated. However, we find that when complex I and complex III are inhibited and succinate concentration is low, complex II in rat skeletal muscle mitochondria can generate superoxide or H(2)O(2) at high rates. These rates approach or exceed the maximum rates achieved by complex I or complex III. Complex II generates these ROS in both the forward reaction, with electrons supplied by succinate, and the reverse reaction, with electrons supplied from the reduced ubiquinone pool. ROS production in the reverse reaction is prevented by inhibition of complex II at either the ubiquinone-binding site (by atpenin A5) or the flavin (by malonate), whereas ROS production in the forward reaction is prevented by malonate but not by atpenin A5, showing that the ROS from complex II arises only from the flavin site (site II(F)). We propose a mechanism for ROS production by complex II that relies upon the occupancy of the substrate oxidation site and the reduction state of the enzyme. We suggest that complex II may be an important contributor to physiological and pathological ROS production.     

Inhibition of mitochondrial respiration as a source of adaphostin-induced reactive oxygen species and cytotoxicity

Adaphostin is a dihydroquinone derivative that is undergoing extensive preclinical testing as a potential anticancer drug. Previous studies have suggested that the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a critical role in the cytotoxicity of this agent. In this study, we investigated the source of these ROS. Consistent with the known chemical properties of dihydroquinones, adaphostin simultaneously underwent oxidation to the corresponding quinone and generated ROS under aqueous conditions. Interestingly, however, this quinone was not detected in intact cells. Instead, high performance liquid chromatography demonstrated that adaphostin was concentrated by up to 300-fold in cells relative to the extracellular medium and that the highest concentration of adaphostin (3000-fold over extracellular concentrations) was detected in mitochondria. Consistent with a mitochondrial site for adaphostin action, adaphostin-induced ROS production was diminished by >75% in MOLT-4 rho(0) cells, which lack mitochondrial electron transport, relative to parental MOLT-4 cells. In addition, inhibition of oxygen consumption was observed when intact cells were treated with adaphostin. Loading of isolated mitochondria to equivalent adaphostin concentrations caused inhibition of uncoupled oxygen consumption in mitochondria incubated with the complex I substrates pyruvate and malate or the complex II substrate succinate. Further analysis demonstrated that adaphostin had no effect on pyruvate or succinate dehydrogenase activity. Instead, adaphostin inhibited reduced decylubiquinone-induced cytochrome c reduction, identifying complex III as the site of inhibition by this agent. Moreover, adaphostin enhanced the production of ROS by succinate-charged mitochondria. Collectively, these observations demonstrate that mitochondrial respiration rather than direct redox cycling of the hydroquinone moiety is a source of adaphostin-induced ROS and identify complex III as a potential target for antineoplastic agents.     

Effects of site-directed mutations in Escherichia coli succinate dehydrogenase on the enzyme activity and production of superoxide radicals.

Escherichia coli succinate dehydrogenase (SdhCDAB) catalyzes the oxidation of succinate to fumarate in the Krebs cycle, and during turnover, it produces superoxide radicals. SdhCDAB is a good model system for the succinate dehydrogenase (Sdh) found in the mitochondrial respiratory chain (complex II), as the subunits are structural homologues. Although mutations in sdh genes are reportedly associated with a variety of mitochondria-related diseases, the molecular mechanism of these diseases is poorly understood. We have investigated the effects of site-directed mutations around the heme (SdhD-H71L and SdhC-H91L), and at the ubiquinone-binding site (Q site; SdhC-I28E), on enzyme activity and production of superoxide radicals. The mutations SdhD-H71L and SdhC-I28E, but not SdhC-H91L, significantly reduce the succinate-ubiquinone reductase activity of the enzyme. All 3 mutant enzymes produce more superoxide than the wild-type enzyme, indicating that disturbance of the heme or the Q site can enhance superoxide production. The presence of a Q-site inhibitor reduces superoxide production significantly. Furthermore, the yield of superoxide is substrate dependent and increases with succinate concentration from 0.1 to 10 mmol/L. Our results indicate that, in SdhCDAB, the Q site with bound ubiquinone is an important source of superoxide radicals.     

Generation of reactive oxygen species by the mitochondrial electron transport chain

Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC), which is composed of four multiprotein complexes named complex I-IV, is believed to be important in the aging process and in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease. Previous studies have identified the ubiquinone of complex III and an unknown component of complex I as the major sites of ROS generation. Here we show that the physiologically relevant ROS generation supported by the complex II substrate succinate occurs at the flavin mononucleotide group (FMN) of complex I through reversed electron transfer, not at the ubiquinone of complex III as commonly believed. Indirect evidence indicates that the unknown ROS-generating site within complex I is also likely to be the FMN group. It is therefore suggested that the major physiologically and pathologically relevant ROS-generating site in mitochondria is limited to the FMN group of complex I. These new insights clarify an elusive target for intervening mitochondrial ROS-related processes or diseases.     

Synthetic atpenin analogs: Potent mitochondrial inhibitors of mammalian and fungal succinate-ubiquinone oxidoreductase

Atpenins and harzianopyridone represent a unique class of penta-substituted pyridine-based natural products that are potent inhibitors of complex II (succinate-ubiquinone oxidoreductase) in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. These compounds block electron transfer in oxidative phosphorylation by inhibiting oxidation of succinate to fumarate and the coupled reduction of ubiquinone to ubiquinol. From our investigations of complex II inhibitors as potential agricultural fungicides, we report here on the synthesis and complex II inhibition for a series of synthetic atpenin analogs against both mammalian and fungal forms of the enzyme. Synthetic atpenin 2e provided optimum mammalian and fungal inhibition with slightly higher potency than natural occurring atpenin A5.     

Cadmium inhibits the electron transfer chain and induces reactive oxygen species

Recent research indicates that cadmium (Cd) induces oxidative damage in cells; however, the mechanism of the oxidative stress induced by this metal is unclear. We investigated the effects of Cd on the individual complexes of the electron transfer chain (ETC) and on the stimulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in mitochondria. The activity of complexes II (succinate:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) and III (ubiquinol:cytochrome c oxidoreductase) of mitochondrial ETC from liver, brain, and heart showed greater inhibition by Cd than the other complexes. Cd stimulated ROS production in the mitochondria of all three tissues mentioned above. The effect of various electron donors (NADH, succinate, and 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-decyl-1,4-benzoquinol) on ROS production was tested separately in the presence and in the absence of Cd. ESR showed that complex III might be the only site of ROS production induced by Cd. The results of kinetic studies and electron turnover experiments suggest that Cd may bind between semiubiquinone and cytochrome b566 of the Q0 site of cytochrome b of complex III, resulting in accumulation of semiubiquinones at the Q0 site. The semiubiquinones, being unstable, are prone to transfer one electron to molecular oxygen to form superoxide, providing a possible mechanism for Cd-induced generation of ROS in mitochondria.     

Characterization of the stimulus for reactive oxygen species generation in calcium-overloaded mitochondria

We have used two different probes with distinct detection properties, dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate and Amplex Red/horseradish peroxidase, as well as different respiratory substrates and electron transport chain inhibitors, to characterize the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by the respiratory chain in calcium-overloaded mitochondria. Regardless of the respiratory substrate, calcium stimulated the mitochondrial generation of ROS, which were released at both the mitochondrial-matrix side and the extra-mitochondrial space, in a way insensitive to the mitochondrial permeability transition pores inhibitor cyclosporine A. In glutamate/malate-energized mitochondria, inhibition at complex I or complex III (ubiquinone cycle) similarly modulated ROS generation at either mitochondrial-matrix side or extra-mitochondrial space; this also occurred when the backflow of electrons to complex I in succinate-energized mitochondria was inhibited. On the other hand, in succinate-energized mitochondria the modulation of ROS generation at mitochondrial-matrix side or extra-mitochondrial space depends on the site of complex III which was inhibited. These results allow a straight comparison between the effects of different respiratory substrates and electron transport chain inhibitors on ROS generation at either mitochondrial-matrix side or extra-mitochondrial space in calcium-overloaded mitochondria.     

Effect of steroid hormones on production of reactive oxygen species in mitochondria

Among the targets of steroid hormones are mitochondria, which as the main source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cell play a central role in the development of various pathologies. We studied the effect of progesterone and its synthetic analogs on mitochondrial ROS production. It was found that progesterone promoted formation of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide in mitochondria oxidizing the substrates of complex I of the respiratory chain but did not influence the production of ROS during oxidation of succinate, respiratory chain complex II substrate. Progesterone derivatives—Medroxyprogesterone acetate, Buterol, Acetomepregenol, Megestrol acetate—had different effects on ROS production, depending on their chemical structure. By the stimulation of ROS production in mitochondria (during oxidation of pyruvate + malate), the tested steroids can be arranged in decreasing order as follows: progesterone > Buterol ≈ Acetomepregenol > Medroxyprogesterone acetate = Megestrol acetate. Activation of ROS production by progesterone and by Buterol involves different mechanisms: progesterone acts as an inhibitor of NAD-dependent respiration, while Buterol and Acetomepregenol perhaps form noncovalent complexes by hydrogen bonding of the ester carbonyl at C3 to the SH groups of the respective targets.     

Characterization of the stimulus for reactive oxygen species generation in calcium-overloaded mitochondria

Abstract

We have used two different probes with distinct detection properties, dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate and Amplex Red/horseradish peroxidase, as well as different respiratory substrates and electron transport chain inhibitors, to characterize the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by the respiratory chain in calcium-overloaded mitochondria. Regardless of the respiratory substrate, calcium stimulated the mitochondrial generation of ROS, which were released at both the mitochondrial-matrix side and the extra-mitochondrial space, in a way insensitive to the mitochondrial permeability transition pores inhibitor cyclosporine A. In glutamate/malate-energized mitochondria, inhibition at complex I or complex III (ubiquinone cycle) similarly modulated ROS generation at either mitochondrial-matrix side or extra-mitochondrial space; this also occurred when the backflow of electrons to complex I in succinate-energized mitochondria was inhibited. On the other hand, in succinate-energized mitochondria the modulation of ROS generation at mitochondrial-matrix side or extra-mitochondrial space depends on the site of complex III which was inhibited. These results allow a straight comparison between the effects of different respiratory substrates and electron transport chain inhibitors on ROS generation at either mitochondrial-matrix side or extra-mitochondrial space in calcium-overloaded mitochondria.     

Arachidonic acid interaction with the mitochondrial electron transport chain promotes reactive oxygen species generation.

A study has been carried out on the interaction of arachidonic acid and other long chain free fatty acids with bovine heart mitochondria. It is shown that arachidonic acid causes an uncoupling effect under state 4 respiration of intact mitochondria as well as a marked inhibition of uncoupled respiration. While, under our conditions, the uncoupling effect is independent of the fatty acid species considered, the inhibition is stronger for unsaturated acids. Experiments carried out with mitochondrial particles indicated that the arachidonic acid dependent decrease of the respiratory activity is caused by a selective inhibition of Complex I and III. It is also shown that arachidonic acid causes a remarkable increase of hydrogen peroxide production when added to mitochondria respiring with either pyruvate+malate or succinate as substrate. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the coupling site II was almost double than that at site I. The results obtained are discussed with regard to the impairment of the mitochondrial respiratory activity as occurring during the heart ischemia/reperfusion process.     

The role of Sdh4p Tyr-89 in ubiquinone reduction by the Saccharomyces cerevisiae succinate dehydrogenase

Succinate dehydrogenase (complex II or succinate:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) is a tetrameric, membrane-bound enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of succinate and the reduction of ubiquinone in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Two electrons from succinate are transferred one at a time through a flavin cofactor and a chain of iron-sulfur clusters to reduce ubiquinone to an ubisemiquinone intermediate and to ubiquinol. Residues that form the proximal quinone-binding site (Q_P) must recognize ubiquinone, stabilize the ubisemiquinone intermediate, and protonate the ubiquinone to ubiquinol, while minimizing the production of reactive oxygen species. We have investigated the role of the yeast Sdh4p Tyr-89, which forms a hydrogen bond with ubiquinone in the Q_P site. This tyrosine residue is conserved in all succinate:ubiquinone oxidoreductases studied to date. In the human SDH, mutation of this tyrosine to cysteine results in paraganglioma, tumors of the parasympathetic ganglia in the head and neck. We demonstrate that Tyr-89 is essential for ubiquinone reductase activity and that mutation of Tyr-89 to other residues does not increase the production of reactive oxygen species. Our results support a role for Tyr-89 in the protonation of ubiquinone and argue that the generation of reactive oxygen species is not causative of tumor formation.     

The role of Sdh4p Tyr-89 in ubiquinone reduction by the Saccharomyces cerevisiae succinate dehydrogenase

Succinate dehydrogenase (complex II or succinate:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) is a tetrameric, membrane-bound enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of succinate and the reduction of ubiquinone in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Two electrons from succinate are transferred one at a time through a flavin cofactor and a chain of iron-sulfur clusters to reduce ubiquinone to an ubisemiquinone intermediate and to ubiquinol. Residues that form the proximal quinone-binding site (Q(P)) must recognize ubiquinone, stabilize the ubisemiquinone intermediate, and protonate the ubiquinone to ubiquinol, while minimizing the production of reactive oxygen species. We have investigated the role of the yeast Sdh4p Tyr-89, which forms a hydrogen bond with ubiquinone in the Q(P) site. This tyrosine residue is conserved in all succinate:ubiquinone oxidoreductases studied to date. In the human SDH, mutation of this tyrosine to cysteine results in paraganglioma, tumors of the parasympathetic ganglia in the head and neck. We demonstrate that Tyr-89 is essential for ubiquinone reductase activity and that mutation of Tyr-89 to other residues does not increase the production of reactive oxygen species. Our results support a role for Tyr-89 in the protonation of ubiquinone and argue that the generation of reactive oxygen species is not causative of tumor formation.     

Localization of superoxide anion production to mitochondrial electron transport chain in 3-NPA-treated cells

3-Nitropropionic acid (3-NPA), an inhibitor of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) at complex II of the mitochondrial electron transport chain induces cellular energy deficit and oxidative stress-related neurotoxicity. In the present study, we identified the site of reactive oxygen species production in mitochondria. 3-NPA increased O2- generation in mitochondria respiring on the complex I substrates pyruvate+malate, an effect fully inhibited by rotenone. Antimycin A increased O2- production in the presence of complex I and/or II substrates. Addition of 3-NPA markedly increased antimycin A-induced O2- production by mitochondria incubated with complex I substrates, but 3-NPA inhibited O2- formation driven with the complex II substrate succinate. At 0.6 microM, myxothiazol inhibits complex III, but only partially decreases complex I activity, and allowed 3-NPA-induced O2- formation; however, at 40 microM myxothiazol (which completely inhibits both complexes I and III) eliminated O2- production from mitochondria respiring via complex I substrates. These results indicate that in the presence of 3-NPA, mitochondria generate O2- from a site between the ubiquinol pool and the 3-NPA block in the respiratory complex II.     

Effect of Short-Term Caloric Restriction on H2O2 Production and Oxidative DNA Damage in Rat Liver Mitochondria and Location of the Free Radical Source

Oxygen free radicals (ROS) of mitochondrial origin seem to be involved in aging. Whereas in other tissues complexes I or III of the respiratory chain contain the ROS generators, in this study we find that rat liver mitochondria generate oxygen radicals at complexes I, II, and III. Short-term (6 weeks) caloric restriction significantly decreased H₂O₂ production in rat liver mitochondria. This decrease in ROS production was located at complex I because it occurred with complex I-linked substrates (pyruvate/malate), but did not reach statistical significance with the complex II-linked substrate succinate. The mechanism responsible for the lowered ROS production was not a decrease in oxygen consumption. Instead, the mitochondria of caloric-restricted animals released less ROS per unit electron flow. This was due to a decrease in the degree of reduction of the complex I generator. Furthermore, oxidative damage to mitochondrial and nuclear DNA was also decreased in the liver by short-term caloric restriction. The results agree with the idea that caloric restriction delays aging, at least in part, by decreasing the rate of mitochondrial ROS generation and thus the rate of attack to molecules, like DNA, highly relevant for the accumulation of age-dependent changes.     

Contribution of the FAD and quinone binding sites to the production of reactive oxygen species from Ascaris suum mitochondrial complex II

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production from mitochondrial complex II (succinate–quinone reductase, SQR) has become a focus of research recently since it is implicated in carcinogenesis. To date, the FAD site is proposed as the ROS producing site in complex II, based on studies done on Escherichia coli, whereas the quinone binding site is proposed as the site of ROS production based on studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Using the submitochondrial particles from the adult worms and L₃ larvae of the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum, we found that ROS are produced from more than one site in the mitochondrial complex II. Moreover, the succinate-dependent ROS production from the complex II of the A. suum adult worm was significantly higher than that from the complex II of the L₃ larvae. Considering the conservation of amino acids crucial for the SQR activity and the high levels of ROS production from the mitochondrial complex II of the A. suum adult worm together with the absence of complexes III and IV activities in its respiratory chain, it is a good model to examine the reactive oxygen species production from the mitochondrial complex II.     

The mechanism of mitochondrial superoxide production by the cytochrome bc1 complex

Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by the mitochondrial respiratory chain is considered to be one of the major causes of degenerative processes associated with oxidative stress. Mitochondrial ROS has also been shown to be involved in cellular signaling. It is generally assumed that ubisemiquinone formed at the ubiquinol oxidation center of the cytochrome bc(1) complex is one of two sources of electrons for superoxide formation in mitochondria. Here we show that superoxide formation at the ubiquinol oxidation center of the membrane-bound or purified cytochrome bc(1) complex is stimulated by the presence of oxidized ubiquinone indicating that in a reverse reaction the electron is transferred onto oxygen from reduced cytochrome b(L) via ubiquinone rather than during the forward ubiquinone cycle reaction. In fact, from mechanistic studies it seems unlikely that during normal catalysis the ubisemiquinone intermediate reaches significant occupancies at the ubiquinol oxidation site. We conclude that cytochrome bc(1) complex-linked ROS production is primarily promoted by a partially oxidized rather than by a fully reduced ubiquinone pool. The resulting mechanism of ROS production offers a straightforward explanation of how the redox state of the ubiquinone pool could play a central role in mitochondrial redox signaling.     

Sites of generation of reactive oxygen species in homogenates of brain tissue determined with the use of respiratory substrates and inhibitors

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been widely implicated in the pathogenesis of various neurological diseases and aging. But the exact sites of ROS generation in brain tissue remained so far elusive. Here, we provide direct experimental evidence that at least 50% of total ROS generation in succinate-oxidizing homogenates of brain tissue can be attributed to complex I of mitochondrial respiratory chain. Applying quantitative methods for ROS detection we observed in different preparations from human, rat and mouse brain (digitonin-permeabilized tissue homogenates and isolated mitochondria) a linear relationship between rate of oxygen consumption and ROS generation with succinate as mitochondrial substrate. This quantitative relationship indicates, that under the particular conditions of oxygen saturation about 1% of the corresponding respiratory chain electron flow is redirected to form superoxide. Since we observed in mouse and rat brain mitochondria a unique dependency of both forward and reverse electron flow-dependent mitochondrial H(2)O(2) production on NAD redox state, we substantiated previous evidence that the FMN moiety of complex I is the major donor of electrons for the single electron reduction of molecular oxygen.     

Structural and computational analysis of the quinone-binding site of complex II (succinate-ubiquinone oxidoreductase): a mechanism of electron transfer and proton conduction during ubiquinone reduction

The transfer of electrons and protons between membrane-bound respiratory complexes is facilitated by lipid-soluble redox-active quinone molecules (Q). This work presents a structural analysis of the quinone-binding site (Q-site) identified in succinate:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (SQR) from Escherichia coli. SQR, often referred to as Complex II or succinate dehydrogenase, is a functional member of the Krebs cycle and the aerobic respiratory chain and couples the oxidation of succinate to fumarate with the reduction of quinone to quinol (QH(2)). The interaction between ubiquinone and the Q-site of the protein appears to be mediated solely by hydrogen bonding between the O1 carbonyl group of the quinone and the side chain of a conserved tyrosine residue. In this work, SQR was co-crystallized with the ubiquinone binding-site inhibitor Atpenin A5 (AA5) to confirm the binding position of the inhibitor and reveal additional structural details of the Q-site. The electron density for AA5 was located within the same hydrophobic pocket as ubiquinone at, however, a different position within the pocket. AA5 was bound deeper into the site prompting further assessment using protein-ligand docking experiments in silico. The initial interpretation of the Q-site was re-evaluated in the light of the new SQR-AA5 structure and protein-ligand docking data. Two binding positions, the Q(1)-site and Q(2)-site, are proposed for the E. coli SQR quinone-binding site to explain these data. At the Q(2)-site, the side chains of a serine and histidine residue are suitably positioned to provide hydrogen bonding partners to the O4 carbonyl and methoxy groups of ubiquinone, respectively. This allows us to propose a mechanism for the reduction of ubiquinone during the catalytic turnover of the enzyme.     

Role of mitochondrial thiols of different localization in the generation of reactive oxygen species

The role of thiols of the outer and the inner membranes of mitochondria in the regulation of generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been studied. It was found that N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), which penetrates through the mitochondrial membrane and binds thiols to form thioesters, at concentrations from 20 to 250 μM activates the production of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide during the oxidation of the substrates of complexes I and II of the respiratory chain. 5′,5′-Dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoate) (DTNB), which does not penetrate into mitochondria and binds thiols to form disulfides, weakly activates hydrogen peroxide production during the oxidation of NAD-dependent substrates and inhibits the ROS production upon succinate oxidation. DTNB is particularly effective in inhibiting the menadione-induced formation of ROS. The differences in the ROS formation by these reagents are explained by the fact that they influence different thiol-containing proteins and enzymes. As distinct from NEM, which inhibits complex I of the respiratory chain, DTNB has no effect on the respiratory chain of mitochondria but can bind the SH-groups of NADH-quinone oxidoreductase, which is localized in the outer mitochondrial membrane and participates in the redox cycle of menadione. It was also shown that the ability to inhibit the ADP-stimulated respiration, a feature inherent in both reagents, does not significantly contribute to ROS production.     

Regulation of hydrogen peroxide production by brain mitochondria by calcium and Bax

Abnormal accumulation of Ca2+ and exposure to pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, is believed to stimulate mitochondrial generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and contribute to neural cell death during acute ischemic and traumatic brain injury, and in neurodegenerative diseases, e.g. Parkinson's disease. However, the mechanism by which Ca2+ or apoptotic proteins stimulate mitochondrial ROS production is unclear. We used a sensitive fluorescent probe to compare the effects of Ca2+ on H2O2 emission by isolated rat brain mitochondria in the presence of physiological concentrations of ATP and Mg2+ and different respiratory substrates. In the absence of respiratory chain inhibitors, Ca2+ suppressed H2O2 generation and reduced the membrane potential of mitochondria oxidizing succinate, or glutamate plus malate. In the presence of the respiratory chain Complex I inhibitor rotenone, accumulation of Ca2+ stimulated H2O2 production by mitochondria oxidizing succinate, and this stimulation was associated with release of mitochondrial cytochrome c. In the presence of glutamate plus malate, or succinate, cytochrome c release and H2O2 formation were stimulated by human recombinant full-length Bax in the presence of a BH3 cell death domain peptide. These results indicate that in the presence of ATP and Mg2+, Ca2+ accumulation either inhibits or stimulates mitochondrial H2O2 production, depending on the respiratory substrate and the effect of Ca2+ on the mitochondrial membrane potential. Bax plus a BH3 domain peptide stimulate H2O2 production by brain mitochondria due to release of cytochrome c and this stimulation is insensitive to changes in membrane potential.