Home > Browse Issues > Vol.26 No.1
Role of Mitochondrial Intermembrane Proteins in Apoptosis
MA Li Yan
Institute of Medicinal Plant, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100094, China
Abstract: Mitochondria are 'life-essential' organelles for the production of metabolic energy in the form of ATP. Paradoxically mitochondria also play an important role in the apoptotic-signaling pathway. Numerous pro-apoptotic molecules act on mitochondria and provoke the permeabilization of mitochondrial membranes. Soluble proteins contained in the mitochondrial intermembrane space are released through the outer membrane and participate in the organized destruction of the cells. Among the lethal proteins， some activate caspases (cyt c， Smac/DIABLO， Omi/HtrA2，etc.)， whereas others act in a caspase-independent fashion (endo G， AIF， Omi/HtrA2， etc.). The diversity of mitochondrial factors participating in apoptosis emphasizes the central role of these organelles in apoptosis control.
CN
EN