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Mitochondrial control of cell death

Abstract

In many instances, permeabilization of mitochondrial membranes is a rate-limiting step of apoptotic or necrotic cell demise. This has important consequences for the pathophysiology of cell death, as well as for its pharmacological control.

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Figure 1: Mitochondrial involvement in cell death.
Figure 2: Possible mechanisms for the permeabilization of the mitochondrial inner membrane (IM) or outer membrane (OM).

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Acknowledgements

We thank E. Jacotot for critical reading. This was supported by a special grant from the Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, as well as by grants from ANRS and FRM (to G.K) and the National Institutes of Health, NIA, the National Cancer Institute and GM (to J.C.R.).

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Kroemer, G., Reed, J. Mitochondrial control of cell death. Nat Med 6, 513–519 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/74994

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