page_title: SkQ
section_title: Classification
hierarchical_section_title: SkQ / Classification
context_page_description: SkQ is a class of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, developed by prof. Vladimir Skulachev and his team. In a broad sense, SkQ is a lipophilic cation, linked via saturated hydrocarbon chain to an antioxidant. Due to its lipophilic properties, SkQ can effectively penetrate through various cell membranes. The positive charge provides directed transport of the whole molecule including antioxidant moiety into the negatively charged mitochondrial matrix. Substances of this type, various drugs that are based on them, as well as methods of their use are patented in Russia and other countries such as USA, EU, China, Japan, etc. Sometimes the term SkQ is used in a narrow sense for the denomination of a cationic derivative of the plant antioxidant plastoquinone.
context_section_description: SkQ compound consists of three parts: antioxidant, C-aliphatic linker and lipophilic cation.
  A list of some of SkQ and substances with similar structure:
caption: Compaunds of SkQ