A mitochondrial perspective on cell death

The role of mitochondria as crucial participants in cell death programs is well established, yet the mechanisms responsible for the release of mitocho ndrial activators and the role of BCL2 family proteins in this process rema in controversial. Here, we point out the limitations of current approaches used to monitor the physiological responses of mitochondria during cell dea th, the implications arising from modern views of mitochondrial structure, and briefly assess two proposed mechanisms for the release of mitochondrial proteins during apoptosis.