Mitochondria as balancers of reduction/oxidation for intracellular environment

Abstract Reduction/oxidation-dependent reactions affect many cellular functional pathways. Mitochondria are at the center of these processes, as mitochondria both generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that drive redox-sensitive events and respond to ROS-mediated changes in the cellular redox state. In this chapter, we discuss the regulation of cellular ROS, their modes of production and removal, and the redox-sensitive targets that are modified by their flux. In particular, we focus on the actions of redox-sensitive targets that change mitochondrial functions. We also consider the role of mitochondria in modulating these events, and discuss how redox-dependent events may contribute to the pathology of diseases by influencing mitochondrial function, particularly the involvement of mitochondrial ROS in diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases.