Mitochondria play a crucial role in apoptosis, or programmed cell death. One of the key events in apoptosis is the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondrial intermembrane space into the cytoplasm. This release activates caspases, a family of protease enzymes that execute cell death. The balance between pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins of the Bcl-2 family also regulates mitochondrial membrane permeability and apoptosis.
