Reactive oxygen species (ROS) including superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are thought to be by-products of aerobic respiration with damaging effects on DNA, protein, and lipid. A growing body of evidence indicates, however, that ROS are involved in the maintenance of redox homeostasis and various cellular signaling pathways. ROS are generated from diverse sources including mitochondrial respiratory chain, enzymatic activation of cytochrome p450, and NADPH oxidases further suggesting involvement in a complex array of cellular processes. This review summarizes the production and function of ROS. In particular, how cytosolic and membrane proteins regulate ROS generation for intracellular redox signaling will be detailed.

Keywords: apoptosis, cell signaling, cytochrome p450, mitochondria, NADPH oxidase, reactive oxygen species