线粒体膜间隙蛋白在细胞凋亡中的作用

线粒体除了作为细胞内的“能量工厂”外，在控制细胞凋亡中起主导作用。细胞凋亡时，线粒体膜通透性增加，释放可溶性线粒体膜间隙蛋白质，进一步破坏细胞结构。在这些致死性蛋白质中，有些(cytc、Smac／DIABLO、Omi／HtrA2等)能够激活caspases，另一些(endo G、AIF、Omi/HtrA2等)则以非caspase依赖的方式发挥作用。多种线粒体因子参与细胞凋亡，强化了细胞器在凋亡控制中的核心作用。

Role of Mitochondrial Intermembrane Proteins in Apoptosis

Mitochondria are 'life-essential' organelles for the production of metabolic energy in the form of ATP. Paradoxically mitochondria also play an important role in the apoptotic-signal-ing pathway. Numerous pro-apoptotic molecules act on mitochondria and provoke the permeabilization of mitochondrial membranes. Soluble proteins contained in the mitochondrial in-termembrane space are released through the outer membrane and participate in the organized destruction of the cells. Among the lethal proteins, some activate caspases (cyt c, Smac/DIABLO, Omi/HtrA2,etc.), whereas others act in a caspase-independent fashion (endo G, AIF, Omi/HtrA2, etc.). The diversity of mitochondrial factors participating in apoptosis emphasizes the central roleof these organelles in apoptosis control.