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Lipophilic triphenylphosphonium cations as tools in mitochondrial bioenergetics and free radical biology

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Abstract

Lipophilic phosphonium cations were first used to investigate mitochondrial biology by Vladimir Skulachev and colleagues in the late 1960s. Since then, these molecules have become important tools for exploring mitochondrial bioenergetics and free radical biology. Here we review why these molecules are useful in mitochondrial research and outline some of the ways in which they are now being utilized.

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Abbreviations

ε:

dielectric constant

GSH:

glutathione

GSSG:

glutathione disulfide

tetraPP:

tetraphenylphosphonium cation

IBTP:

(4-iodobutyl)triphenylphosphonium cation

Δψ:

membrane potential

PBN:

phenylbutylnitrone

TBTP:

(4-thiobutyl)triphenylphosphonium cation

TPB:

tetraphenylborate anion

TPMP:

methyltriphenylphosphonium cation

TPP:

triphenylphosphonium cation

TrxSH:

reduced thioredoxin

TrxSS:

oxidized thioredoxin

WB :

Born energy

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRC Dunn Human Nutrition Unit, Hills Road, CB2 2XY, Cambridge, UK

    M. F. Ross, A. M. James, H. M. Cochemé, A. Filipovska, T. R. Hurd & M. P. Murphy

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

    G. F. Kelso, F. H. Blaikie & R. A. J. Smith

  3. Pharmaceutical Science Department, Trieste University, 34127, Trieste, Italy

    T. Da Ros

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  1. M. F. Ross
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  2. G. F. Kelso
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  3. F. H. Blaikie
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Correspondence to M. P. Murphy.

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Translated from Biokhimiya, Vol. 70, No. 2, 2005, pp. 273–283.

Original Russian Text Copyright ¢ 2005 by Ross, Kelso, Blaikie, James, Cochemé, Filipovska, Da Ros, Hurd, Smith, Murphy.

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Ross, M.F., Kelso, G.F., Blaikie, F.H. et al. Lipophilic triphenylphosphonium cations as tools in mitochondrial bioenergetics and free radical biology. Biochemistry (Moscow) 70, 222–230 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10541-005-0104-5

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