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. 2021 Dec 6;43(8):1905–1915. doi: 10.1038/s41401-021-00814-1

Fig. 4. Antioxidants of ferroptosis during viral infection.

Fig. 4

System-xc- influxes cysteine and effluxes glutamate. Cysteine is used in viral protein synthesis, causing reduced GSH synthesis. Viruses inhibit GPX4 and GSH by either attenuating synthesis or degrading the protein and molecule. Virally hijacked metabolism produces metabolites that inhibit or degrade GSH. Lack of antioxidant activity leads to the accumulation of lipid ROS and eventually causes ferroptosis. GSH Glutathione, GPX4 Glutathione Peroxidase 4, ROS Reactive oxygen species, TCA tricarboxylic acid.