Mitochondria – a switch board between various cell death modalities

For many years, mitochondria were regarded exclusively as cellular power plants, destined to provide the cell with energy in the form of ATP. Mitochondrial deterioration can have fatal consequences for cellular physiology and be a cause of various diseases. Subsequent studies revealed the involvement of mitochondria in the regulation and execution of multiple modalities of cell death. Analysis of the involvement of mitochondria in the control of various modes of cell death led to the conclusion that mitochondria might play a leading role as a “switch-board” between various cell death modalities.