Apoptosis and Mitochondria: Cell Death Mechanisms

Mitochondrion, the gift to the eukaryotic cells through endosymbiosis of a bacterial progenitor, not only the wallet of power, but also the cellular calcium pool, mediates non-shivering thermogenesis and cell death. Apoptosis is a self-destructive mechanism, essential for maintaining different cellular mechanisms like sculpting tissues for organ development, tissue homeostasis, and removal of unwanted cells. Here, we review and discuss about the mechanisms of release of different apoptotic factors from mitochondria into cytosol that carries out apoptosis.