Life manifests as growth, movement or heat production that occurs thanks to the energy accepted from the outside environment. The basis of energy transduction attracted the Czech researchers since the beginning of the 20th century. It further accelerated after World War II, when the new Institute of Physiology was established in 1954. When it was found that energy is stored in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) that can be used by numerous reactions as energy source and is produced in the process called oxidative phosphorylation localized in mitochondria, the investigation focused on this cellular organelle. Although the Czech scientists had to overcome various obstacles including Communist party leadership, driven by curiosity, boldness, and enthusiasm, they characterized broad spectrum of mitochondrial properties in different tissues in (patho)physiological conditions in collaboration with many world-known laboratories. The current review summarizes the contribution of the Czech scientists to the bioenergetic and mitochondrial research in the global context. Keywords: Mitochondria, Bioenergetics, Chemiosmotic coupling.

Laboratory of Bioenergetics Institute of Physiology Prague Czech Republic

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Drahota Z, Krivakova P, Cervinkova Z, Kmonickova E, Lotkova H, Kucera O, Houstek J. Tert-butyl hydroperoxide selectively inhibits mitochondrial respiratory-chain enzymes in isolated rat hepatocytes. Physiol Res. 2005;54:67–72. doi: 10.33549/physiolres.930578. PubMed DOI

Kmonickova E, Drahota Z, Kamenikova L, Cervinkova Z, Masek K, Farghali H. Modulatory effect of cyclosporin A on tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidative damage in hepatocytes. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2001;23:43–54. doi: 10.1081/IPH-100102566. PubMed DOI

Krivakova P, Labajova A, Cervinkova Z, Drahota Z. Inhibitory effect of t-butyl hydroperoxide on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in isolated rat hepatocytes. Physiol Res. 2007;56:137–140. doi: 10.33549/physiolres.931006. PubMed DOI

Drahota Z, Endlicher R, Stankova P, Rychtrmoc D, Milerova M, Cervinkova Z. Characterization of calcium, phosphate and peroxide interactions in activation of mitochondrial swelling using derivative of the swelling curves. J Bioenerg Biomembr. 2012;44:309–315. doi: 10.1007/s10863-012-9443-2. PubMed DOI

Endlicher R, Drahota Z, Kucera O, Cervinkova Z. Age-dependent changes in the function of mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore in rat liver mitochondria. Physiol Res. 2021;70:905–911. https://doi.org/10.33549//physiolres.934734, https://doi.org/10.33549/physiolres.934734. PubMed DOI PMC

Endlicher R, Drahota Z, Stefkova K, Cervinkova Z, Kucera O. The mitochondrial permeability transition pore-current knowledge of its structure, function, and regulation, and optimized methods for evaluating its functional state. Cells. 2023;12:1273. doi: 10.3390/cells12091273. PubMed DOI PMC

Labajova A, Kofranek J, Krivakova P, Cervinkova Z, Drahota Z. Tetraphenylphosphonium-selective electrode as a tool for evaluating mitochondrial permeability transition pore function in isolated rat hepatocytes. Gen Physiol Biophys. 2006;25:325–331. PubMed

Drahota Z, Palenickova E, Endlicher R, Milerova M, Brejchova J, Vosahlikova M, Svoboda P, Kazdova L, Kalous M, Cervinkova Z, Cahova M. Biguanides inhibit complex I, II and IV of rat liver mitochondria and modify their functional properties. Physiol Res. 2014;63:1–11. doi: 10.33549/physiolres.932600. PubMed DOI

Pecinova A, Drahota Z, Kovalcikova J, Kovarova N, Pecina P, Alan L, Zima M, Houstek J, Mracek T. Pleiotropic effects of biguanides on mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2017;2017:7038603. doi: 10.1155/2017/7038603. PubMed DOI PMC