Аннотация:For many pathological conditions, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in mitochondria are considered
to have a role as a trigger. When mitochondrial ROS (mROS) are formed in the inner mitochondrial membrane,
they initiate free radical-mediated chain reactions of lipid peroxidation and are thus especially damaging.
The consequences of membrane damage are decreased electrical resistance of the membrane, oxidative
damage to cardiolipin (a mitochondria specifi c lipid essential for functioning of respiratory chain proteins and
H + -ATP synthase), and damage to mitochondrial DNA localized in close vicinity to the inner membrane,
with consequent mitochondrial dysfunction and induction of apoptotic cascade and cell death. To target the
starting point of such undesirable events, antioxidants conjugated with mitochondria- targeted, membranepenetrating
cations can be used to scavenge ROS inside mitochondria. The most demonstrative indications
favoring this conclusion originate from recent discoveries of the in vivo effects of such cations belonging to
the MitoQ and SkQ groups. Here we describe some essential methodological aspects of the application of
mitochondria-targeted cations promising in treating oxidative stress-related pathologies.