Authors
Christoph Richter, Matthias Schweizer, Andrea Cossarizza, Claudio Franceschi
Publication date
1996/1/8
Source
FEBS letters
Volume
378
Issue
2
Pages
107-110
Description
Apoptosis is a physiological form of cell death. Its causes and execution mechanisms are not clearly understood. Oxidative stress, nitric oxide and its congeners, Ca2+, proteases, nucleases, and mitochondria are considered mediators of apoptosis. At present their importance and exact role are elusive but it is clear that mitochondria are both the target and the source of oxidative stress, nitric oxide, and Ca2+. The mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ), which is the driving force for mitochondrial ATP synthesis, declines during apoptosis, and maintenance of ΔΨ prevents apoptosis. Since apoptosis is highly regulated and involves the activity of hydrolytic enzymes, chromatin condensation and vesicle formation apoptosis is likely to have a high energy demand. We propose that the cellular ATP level is an important determinant for cell death. This hypothesis is supported by circumstantial evidence, is consistent with …
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Scholar articles
C Richter, M Schweizer, A Cossarizza, C Franceschi - FEBS letters, 1996