Cytoplasmic signaling in the control of mitochondrial uproar?
The concept of a pre-emptive strike as a good means to prevent greater harm may be frequently over-stressed in daily life. However, biological systems in a homeostatic balance are prepared to withstand a certain degree of hostile fire by rather passive means. This also applies to the maintenance of cell survival, where a plethora of protective proteins provide safeguard against erroneous activation of death pathways. Apart from these mechanisms active processes are also essential for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis, commonly referred to as survival signaling. Frequently their targets may be mitochondrial, assuring organelle integrity, which is essential for continued energy production and survival. Transient or permanent failures in these cellular defense strategies result in pathophysiological conditions, which manifest themselves e.g. as cancer or ischemia/reperfusion-associated organ damage.
Hermann
Martin
M
Daniel Swarovski Research Laboratory, Innsbruck Medical University (IMU), Innrain 66, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. jakob.troppmair@i-med.ac.at.
Kuznetsov
Andrey
A
Maglione
Manuel
M
Smigelskaite
Julija
J
Margreiter
Raimund
R
Troppmair
Jakob
J