This analytical review considers the main elements of mitochondrial restructuring that occurs in eukaryotes forced to live in hypoxic conditions for a long time. In these organisms, mitochondria retain their activity, not only synthetic and signaling, but also bioenergetic, albeit to a lesser extent. The reorganization, primarily accompanied by the reversal of the succinate dehydrogenase reaction and the presence of low-potential quinone, allows organisms to obtain energy exclusively from complex I in mitochondria. A comprehensive review of all changes caused by constant exposure to hypoxic conditions allows us to develop an anti-hypoxic strategy that eliminates the influence of undesirable factors associated with hypoxic changes. On the other hand, understanding all elements of hypoxia-induced changes makes it possible to use them in combating solid tumor cells that live in the oxygen-deprived microenvironment.
Zorov et al. (Mon,) studied this question.