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Nature 434, 578-579 (31 March 2005) | doi:10.1038/434578a; Published online 30 March 2005

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Biochemistry:  A pore way to die

Andrew Halestrap1

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Like Jekyll to Hyde, mitochondria can change from acting as the cell's powerhouses to become merciless killers. Mice lacking this mechanism develop normally, and their hearts are resistant to pathological damage.

As part of normal development and tissue turnover, cells die in a controlled, energy-dependent manner known as apoptosis. However, in response to noxious insults such as lack of oxygen, cells die by an uncontrolled, energy-independent process called necrosis.

  1. Andrew Halestrap is at the Bristol Heart Institute and the Department of Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.
    e-mail: Email: A.Halestrap@Bristol.ac.uk