Oxygen, reactive oxygen species and developmental redox networks: Evo-Devo Evil-Devils?

Abstract

Molecular oxygen (O2), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and associated redox networks are cornerstones of aerobic life, these molecules and networks have gained recognition as fundamental players in mechanisms that regulate the development of multicellular organisms. First, we present a brief review in which we provide a historical description of some relevant discoveries that led to this recognition. We also discuss that despite its abundance in nature, oxygen is a limiting factor, and its high availability variation impacted the evolution of adaptive mechanisms to guarantee the proper development of diverse species under such extreme environments. Finally, some examples when oxygen and ROS were identified as relevant for the control of developmental processes are discussed. We take into account not only the current knowledge on animal redox developmental biology, but also briefly discuss potential scenarios on the origin and evolution of redox developmental mechanisms and the importance of the ever-changing environment.

The rich evolutionary history of the ROS metabolic arsenal shapes its mechanistic plasticity at the onset of metazoan regeneration

“…However, this rather negative vision was revised as a growing number of studies revealed an unsuspected role of ROS as signalling actors (Suzuki et al 1997), with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in particular emerging as a second messenger. Hence, their physiological role has since been established in processes as varied as cell proliferation, cell death or survival, differentiation, migration and metabolic regulation (Covarrubias et al 2008;Salas-Vidal et al 2020). ROS perform these functions mainly through reversible thiol oxidation, modifying the conformation, activity and localization of diverse targets such as kinases and phosphatases, receptors, transcription factors, either directly or through protein relays (Winterbourn 2013).…”