Cellular thiols and mitochondrial components

Cellular thiols and mitochondrial components represent a collective therapeutic target focused on the cell's redox buffering capacity and energy-producing machinery. Cellular thiols, primarily glutathione (GSH) and the thioredoxin system, are essential for maintaining a reduced intracellular environment and protecting against oxidative damage (PubMed: 11060050). Mitochondrial components, including the electron transport chain and the mitochondrial membrane, are central to ATP production and the regulation of apoptosis (Nature Reviews Cancer: 10.1038/nrc2503). Drugs targeting these elements, such as arsenic trioxide and auranofin, typically act by binding to sulfhydryl groups or inhibiting redox enzymes, which leads to the depletion of antioxidant defenses and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (PubChem: CID 10472). This cascade results in mitochondrial membrane depolarization, the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, and the subsequent release of cytochrome c, triggering programmed cell death (PubMed: 24631433). This strategy is frequently employed in treating malignancies like acute promyelocytic leukemia, where cancer cells are particularly sensitive to shifts in redox balance.

Other names

Intracellular thiolsMitochondrial respiratory chainRedox-active componentsMitochondrial permeability transition poreSulfhydryl-containing molecules

Induction of oxidative stress through the depletion of glutathione and inhibition of redox enzymes, leading to mitochondrial membrane depolarization and apoptosis.