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The mitochondrion in apoptosis: how Pandora's box opens

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology volume 2, pages 67–71 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

There is widespread agreement that mitochondria have a function in apoptosis, but the mechanisms behind their involvement remain controversial. Here we suggest that opening of a multiprotein complex called the mitochondrial permeability transition pore complex is sufficient (and, usually, necessary) for triggering apoptosis.

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Figure 1: Hypothetical molecular architecture of the permeability transition pore complex and its regulation.
Figure 2: Alternative hypotheses for the modus operandi of Bcl-2/Bax-like proteins.

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Acknowledgements

The authors' work is supported by a special grant from the Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, as well as grants from ANRS, FRM and EC (to G.K.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR1599, Institut Gustave Roussy, 39 rue Camille-Desmoulins, Villejuif, F-94805, France

    Naoufal Zamzami & Guido Kroemer

Authors
  1. Naoufal Zamzami
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  2. Guido Kroemer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guido Kroemer.

Related links

Related links

DATABASE LINKS

Smac

Bcl-2

Bcl-xL

Bcl-W

Mcl1

A1

Bax

Bad

Bid

Bim

creatine kinase

hexokinase II

cyclophilin D

CD95

ANT2

mouse Ant1

BNIP3

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF LIFE SCIENCES

Apoptosis: molecular mechanisms

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Zamzami, N., Kroemer, G. The mitochondrion in apoptosis: how Pandora's box opens. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2, 67–71 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35048073

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