Related Experiment Videos
Implication of mitochondria in apoptosis
P X Petit1, N Zamzami, J L Vayssière
1Centre de Génétique Moléculaire, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UPR 9061, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
Abstract:
The induction phase of programmed cell death (PCD) or apoptosis is characterized by an extreme heterogeneity of potential PCD-triggering signal transduction pathways. During the subsequent effector phase, the numerous PCD-inducing stimuli converge into a few stereotypical pathways and cells pass a 'point of no return', thus becoming irreversibly committed to death. Evidence is accumulating that cytoplasmic structures, including mitochondria, participate in the critical effector stage and that alterations usually considered to define apoptosis, as nuclear chromatolysis and cytolysis, have to be ascribed to the late degradation phase. We and others have recently shown that nuclear features of apoptosis are preceded by alterations in mitochondrial function and structure. The importance of these alterations for the apoptotic process and also the possible link between, these observations, the permeability transition pore and the programmed cell death, are discussed.
Insights
Programmed cell death (PCD) involves diverse signaling pathways. Mitochondria play a key role in the effector phase, preceding nuclear changes, indicating their critical involvement in apoptosis.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Programmed cell death (PCD), or apoptosis, features a complex induction phase with varied signaling pathways.
- The effector phase involves convergence into fewer pathways, leading to irreversible cell commitment to death.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of cytoplasmic structures, particularly mitochondria, in the effector phase of apoptosis.
- To explore the relationship between mitochondrial alterations and the late degradation phase of apoptosis.
Main Methods:
- Review and synthesis of accumulating evidence on mitochondrial involvement in apoptosis.
- Discussion of the link between mitochondrial function, permeability transition pore, and PCD.
Main Results:
- Mitochondrial function and structure alterations precede nuclear features of apoptosis.
- Cytoplasmic structures, including mitochondria, are critical participants in the effector stage of PCD.
Conclusions:
- Mitochondrial alterations are crucial early events in the apoptotic process.
- These findings highlight the significance of mitochondria in committing cells to death, prior to late-stage nuclear events.