Thus, ΔΨ M is an essential parameter of the mitochondrial function that can be used as an indicator of cell health since mitochondria are inherently involved in the apoptotic process of cells. However, during apoptosis, ΔΨ M decreases as the process is associated with the opening of the mitochondrial permeability pores and loss of the electrochemical gradient. This electrochemical gradient drives the synthesis of ATP. The direction of the mitochondrial membrane potential (with the interior of the organelle being electronegative) is such to produce inward transport of cations and outward transport of anions, thus promoting accumulation of cations in the mitochondria ( Zorova et al., 2018).
Throughout the life of a cell, the mitochondria uses oxidizable substrates to produce an electrochemical proton gradient across the mitochondrial membrane which is used to produce ATP. Several major events occur in mitochondria, of which, the most significant is the loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨ M) ( Green and Reed, 1998).
Apoptosis is a cellular process which involves genetical events causing the death of a cell.
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