Mitochondria are the bioenergetics and metabolic center of eucaryotic cells that carry out many important functions to sustain life. Recent biochemical studies revealed another aspect of mitochondrial function: inducing apoptosis by triggering specific biochemical reactions that lead to rapid disposal of damaged cells. In response to a variety of apoptotic stimuli, mitochondria release many apoptogenic proteins that normally reside in the intermembrane space of mitochondria. These studies suggest that mit...