Abstract
Traditionally, mitochondria have been viewed as the 'powerhouse' of the cell, i.e., the site of the oxidative phosphorylation machinery involved in ATP production. Consequently, much of the research conducted on mitochondria over the past 4 decades has focused on elucidating both those molecular events involved in ATP synthesis by oxidative phosphorylation and those involved in the biogenesis of the oxidative phosphorylation machinery. While monumental achievements have been made, and continue to be made, in the study of these remarkable but extremely complex processes essential for the life of most animal cells, it has been only in recent years that a large body of biological and biomedical scientists have come to recognize that mitochondria participate in other important processes. Two of these are cell death and aging which, not surprisingly, are related processes both involving, in part, the oxidative phosphorylation machinery. This new awareness has sparked a new and growing area of mitochondrial research, that has become of great interest to a wide variety of scientists ranging from those involved in elucidating the role of mitochondria in cell death and aging to those interested in either suppressing or facilitating these processes as it relates to identifying new therapies or drags for human disease. It is the purpose of this brief introductory review to provide an overview of those mitochondrial events involved in the life and death of animal cells and to indicate how these events might relate to the human aging process. Much more is known, much remains controversial, and even more remains to be learned as indicated in the excellent set of minireviews that follow.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 291-304 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1999 |
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Keywords
- Aging
- Apoptosis
- ATP synthase
- Cell death
- Cytochrome c
- Electron transport chain
- Mitochondria
- Mitochondrial DNA
- Necrosis
- Oxidative phosphorylation
- Reactive oxygen species (ROS)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology
- Cell Biology
Cite this
Mitochondrial events in the life and death of animal cells : A brief overview. / Pedersen, Peter L.
In: Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes, Vol. 31, No. 4, 1999, p. 291-304.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Mitochondrial events in the life and death of animal cells
T2 - A brief overview
AU - Pedersen, Peter L
PY - 1999
Y1 - 1999
N2 - Traditionally, mitochondria have been viewed as the 'powerhouse' of the cell, i.e., the site of the oxidative phosphorylation machinery involved in ATP production. Consequently, much of the research conducted on mitochondria over the past 4 decades has focused on elucidating both those molecular events involved in ATP synthesis by oxidative phosphorylation and those involved in the biogenesis of the oxidative phosphorylation machinery. While monumental achievements have been made, and continue to be made, in the study of these remarkable but extremely complex processes essential for the life of most animal cells, it has been only in recent years that a large body of biological and biomedical scientists have come to recognize that mitochondria participate in other important processes. Two of these are cell death and aging which, not surprisingly, are related processes both involving, in part, the oxidative phosphorylation machinery. This new awareness has sparked a new and growing area of mitochondrial research, that has become of great interest to a wide variety of scientists ranging from those involved in elucidating the role of mitochondria in cell death and aging to those interested in either suppressing or facilitating these processes as it relates to identifying new therapies or drags for human disease. It is the purpose of this brief introductory review to provide an overview of those mitochondrial events involved in the life and death of animal cells and to indicate how these events might relate to the human aging process. Much more is known, much remains controversial, and even more remains to be learned as indicated in the excellent set of minireviews that follow.
AB - Traditionally, mitochondria have been viewed as the 'powerhouse' of the cell, i.e., the site of the oxidative phosphorylation machinery involved in ATP production. Consequently, much of the research conducted on mitochondria over the past 4 decades has focused on elucidating both those molecular events involved in ATP synthesis by oxidative phosphorylation and those involved in the biogenesis of the oxidative phosphorylation machinery. While monumental achievements have been made, and continue to be made, in the study of these remarkable but extremely complex processes essential for the life of most animal cells, it has been only in recent years that a large body of biological and biomedical scientists have come to recognize that mitochondria participate in other important processes. Two of these are cell death and aging which, not surprisingly, are related processes both involving, in part, the oxidative phosphorylation machinery. This new awareness has sparked a new and growing area of mitochondrial research, that has become of great interest to a wide variety of scientists ranging from those involved in elucidating the role of mitochondria in cell death and aging to those interested in either suppressing or facilitating these processes as it relates to identifying new therapies or drags for human disease. It is the purpose of this brief introductory review to provide an overview of those mitochondrial events involved in the life and death of animal cells and to indicate how these events might relate to the human aging process. Much more is known, much remains controversial, and even more remains to be learned as indicated in the excellent set of minireviews that follow.
KW - Aging
KW - Apoptosis
KW - ATP synthase
KW - Cell death
KW - Cytochrome c
KW - Electron transport chain
KW - Mitochondria
KW - Mitochondrial DNA
KW - Necrosis
KW - Oxidative phosphorylation
KW - Reactive oxygen species (ROS)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033400541&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0033400541&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1023/A:1005453700533
DO - 10.1023/A:1005453700533
M3 - Article
C2 - 10665520
AN - SCOPUS:0033400541
VL - 31
SP - 291
EP - 304
JO - Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes
JF - Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes
SN - 0145-479X
IS - 4
ER -