Fig. 1.

Role of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) and its activators in cell death. MPTP can be activated indirectly by different drugs (only those exerting a beneficial effect against cancer in vivo are indicated in the box) eliciting changes in inner membrane potential or causing ROS production or leading to calcium overload in the matrix. MPTP opening leads to swelling, rupture of MOM that contributes to cytochrome c release, a process required for apoptosome formation and subsequent activation of effector caspases. See text (par. 2.1) for further details.