Mitochondrial superoxide radicals differentially affect muscle activity and neural function.

Cellular superoxide radicals (O(2)(-)) are mostly generated during mitochondrial oxygen metabolism. O(2)(-) serves as the raw material for many reactive oxygen species (ROS) members like H(2)O(2) and OH(.-) radicals following its catalysis by superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes and also by autocatalysis (autodismutation) reactions.