Authors: Caroppi, P.; Sinibaldi, F.; Fiorucci, L.; Santucci, R.

Source: Current Medicinal Chemistry, Volume 16, Number 31, November 2009 , pp. 4058-4065(8)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Apoptosis is strictly connected to the pathogenesis of many human diseases, including neoplastic, neurodegenerative or cardiovascular diseases. It is a highly programmed cell death which can be activated by various factors. Mitochondria play a key role in the apoptotic process; their damage, which involves permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane, activates a series of events that lead to cell death. Of the two proposed signaling pathways of apoptosis, i.e. the `extrinsic' and the `intrinsic' pathway, the latter is assumed to initiate in mitochondria. Its activation involves release of cytochrome c and other pro-apoptotic factors from the mitochondrial intermembrane space. In the cytosol, cytochrome c exerts its pro-apoptotic action. It binds to the apoptosis protease activation factor (APAf-1) and forms a complex indicated as `apoptosome'. The complex-induced activation of pro-caspase 9 initiates an enzymatic reaction cascade leading to the execution of apoptosis in cells. This review provides an overview of the key role played by mitochondria and cytochrome c in the activation of the apoptotic process.

Keywords: Apoptosis; mitochondria; mitochondrial membrane; cardiolipin; cytochrome c

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986709789378206

Affiliations: 1: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Scienze Biochimiche, Universita di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Roma, Italy.

Publication date: 2009-11-01

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• Current Medicinal Chemistry covers all the latest and outstanding developments in medicinal chemistry and rational drug design. Each issue contains a series of timely in-depth reviews written by leaders in the field covering a range of the current topics in medicinal chemistry. Current Medicinal Chemistry is an essential journal for every medicinal chemist who wishes to be kept informed and up-to-date with the latest and most important developments.

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