MITOCHONDRIA REVISITED - ALTERNATIVE FUNCTIONS OF MITOCHONDRIA

This review explores the alternative functions of mitochondria inside the cell. In a general picture of mitochondrial functioning, the impor tance and uniqueness of these intrinsic functions make them irreplacea ble by other intracellular compartments. Among these are, participatio n 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, detoxicati on and heat production. In most of the listed functions, reactive oxyg en species modulate a number of non-destructive cellular activities. S ome of the mitochondrial functions are reviewed in detail.