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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Oct 26.
Published in final edited form as: Mol Cell. 2012 Oct 26;48(2):158–167. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2012.09.025

Figure 4. H2O2 levels determine physiological outcomes.

Figure 4

The level of mitochondria-derived hydrogen peroxide determines its function and the physiological outcome. While very high quantities of mROS directly damage proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, lower levels of mROS function as signaling molecules to adapt to the stress. Even lower levels of mROS are required for normal cell homeostasis. Therefore mROS are not categorically harmful, and therapeutics must consider the essential role of low levels of mROS.