Mitochondrial control of apoptosis: an introduction

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-291X(03)00614-4Get rights and content

Abstract

Mitochondrial membrane permeabilization [MMP] constitutes an essential step of the intrinsic pathway leading to apoptosis. Several oncoproteins, tumor suppressor gene products, viral virulence factors and pharmacological agents modulate apoptosis via direct effects on mitochondria. This has far-reaching implications for the pathophysiology of several major diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration, and AIDS. The detailed investigation of the mechanisms of MMP will hopefully lead to the discovery of suitable drug targets for therapeutic intervention on cell death control.

Section snippets

Acknowledgements

The author’s own work is supported by a special grant from the Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, as well as by grants from ANRS, and the European Commission (QLG1-CT-1999-00739).

References (40)

  • I. Herr et al.

    Cellular stress response and apoptosis in cancer therapy

    Blood

    (2001)
  • A. Chomyn et al.

    MtDNA mutations in aging and apoptosis

    Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.

    (2003)
  • P. Boya et al.

    Mitochondrion-targeted apoptosis regulators of viral origin

    Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.

    (2003)
  • K. Muthumani et al.

    Mechanism of HIV-1 viral protein R (Vpr) induced apoptosis

    Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.

    (2003)
  • J.D. Robertson et al.

    Role of mitochondria in toxic cell death

    Toxicology

    (2002)
  • M.P. Mattson

    Mitochondrial potassium channels and uncoupling proteins in synaptic plasticity and neuronal cell death

    Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.

    (2003)
  • K. Blomgren et al.

    Mitochondria and ischemic reperfusion damage in the brain—developmental aspects

    Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.

    (2003)
  • N. Zamzami et al.

    Reduction in mitochondrial potential constitutes an early irreversible step of programmed lymphocyte death in vivo

    J. Exp. Med.

    (1995)
  • N. Zamzami et al.

    Sequential reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential and generation of reactive oxygen species in early programmed cell death

    J. Exp. Med.

    (1995)
  • J.C. Goldstein et al.

    The coordinate release of cytochrome c is rapid, complete, and kinetically invariant

    Nat. Cell Biol.

    (2000)
  • Cited by (0)

    Abbreviations: AIF, apoptosis-inducing factor; ANT, adenine nucleotide translocator; ΔΨm, mitochondrial inner transmembrane potential; IM, inner membrane; MMP, mitochondrial membrane permeabilization; OM, outer membrane; PTPC, permeability transition por complex; ROS, reactive oxygen species; VDAC, voltage-dependent anion channel.

    View full text