Mitochondrial electron transport chain activity provides ATP, generates superoxide, regulates apoptosis and provides the biosynthetic building blocks for growing cells. Here Steinert et al. genetically dissect these functions and find that, in the absence of mitochondrial complex III function, acute stimulation results in CD8+ T cell exhaustion and that mitochondrial complex III reactive oxygen species are required for establishment of naive and memory populations.
- Elizabeth M. Steinert
- Beatriz Furtado Bruza
- Navdeep S. Chandel
