Mitochondria as a mediator of cell death

BUSTAMANTE J.; LORES ARNAIZ S.

Free Radicals in Pathophysiology

Research Signpost

Lugar: Trivandrum; Año: 2008; p. 129 - 145

Apoptosis is an important type of cell death characterized by the induction of different signalling pathways in which the mitochondrial participation is frequently observed. Changes in mitochondrial normal functioning, lead to the amplification of the proteolytic cascade which mediates the degradation of cellular substrates including the typical chromatin fragmentation process. Mitochondrial permeabilization of its inner or outer membranes seems to be a critical event. These mitochondrial membrane permeability changes occur as consequence of a closely coordinated alteration of other different mitochondrial functions in which nitric oxide (NO) has an important participation.