Mitochondrial dynamics and apoptosis: a painful separation

Dev Cell. 2008 Sep;15(3):341-343. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2008.08.011.

Abstract

Reporting in Molecular Cell, Sheridan et al. (2008) and Breckenridge et al. (2008) show that mitochondrial fragmentation is not required to induce cell death. Meanwhile, Yamaguchi et al. show that proapoptotic Bcl-2 family members promote cytochrome c mobilization through Opa1-mediated cristae remodeling. Therefore, the connection between mitochondrial structure and apoptosis is more complex than previously imagined.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / physiology*
  • Cytochromes c / metabolism
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Mitochondria / ultrastructure
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Cytochromes c