title: Mitochondria revisited. Alternative functions of mitochondria.
abstract: This review explores the alternative functions of mitochondria inside the cell. In a general picture of mitochondrial functioning, the importance and uniqueness of these intrinsic functions make them irreplaceable by other intracellular compartments. Among these are, participation in apoptosis and cellular proliferation, regulation of the cellular redox state and level of second messengers, heme and steroid syntheses, production and transmission of a transmembrane potential, detoxication and heat production. In most of the listed functions, reactive oxygen species modulate a number of non-destructive cellular activities. Some of the mitochondrial functions are reviewed in detail.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Russia.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Zorov
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Krasnikov
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Kuzminova
authors.lastname: Vysokikh MYu
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Zorova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D006418:Heme / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000502:physiology; D015290:Second Messenger Systems / Q000502:physiology; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013256:Steroids; D006418:Heme