Hydrogen Peroxide-induced Cell Death in Mammalian Cells

Hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) is an important intra- and extra-cellular signaling molecule that can determine cell fate. At low concentrations, H(2)O(2) plays roles in proliferation, immunity, and metabolism. Cellular exposure to higher non-physiologic concentrations of H(2)O(2) can result in oxidative stress. If the stress is not alleviated, cell death can ensue. In the past, few studies were done to study the key mediators of H(2)O(2)-induced cell death. The advancement of genetic screening technology with CRISPR/Cas9 tools has allowed for in depth genome-wide studies to identify key mediators in different cell types. Here, we briefly explore the role of H(2)O(2) in the cell and the essential mediators of H(2)O(2)-induced cell death with a focus on riboflavin, an unexpected essential mediator of H(2)O(2)-induced cell death.