線粒體凋亡途徑是細胞凋亡的主要途徑之一，是目前研究凋亡的熱點.各種凋亡刺激信號通過BH3(Bcl-2 homology domain 3)-only蛋白引起Bax(Bcl-2-asslciated protein X)蛋白移位到線粒體外膜并多聚化,形成膜通道,刺激線粒體釋放細胞色素C(Cyt C) 和Smac(second mitochondrial-derived activator of caspase)，Cyt C通過Apaf-1因子的多聚化與胱天蛋白酶(caspases)-9形成凋亡小體，導致下游胱天蛋白酶的級聯反應。而凋亡蛋白抑制因子(IAP)和Smac通過抑制和促進胱天蛋白酶的級聯反應來調控細胞凋亡。

The Bcl-2 family of proteins regulate apoptosis by controlling mitochondrial permeABIlity and the release of cytochrome C. The anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL reside in the outer mitochondrial wall and inhibit cytochrome C release. The pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins Bad, Bid, Bax and Bim reside in the cytosol but translocate to mitochondria following death signaling, where they promote the release of cytochrome C. Bad translocates to mitochondria and forms a pro-apoptotic complex with Bcl-xL. This translocation is inhibited by survival factors that induce the phosphorylation of Bad, leading to its cytosolic sequestration. Cytosolic BID is cleaved by caspase 8 following signaling through Fas: its active fragment (tBid) translocates to mitochondria. Bax and Bim translocate to mitochondria in response to death stimuli, including survival factor withdrawal.p53, activated following DNA damage, induces the transcription of Bax. Released cytochrome C binds Apaf1 and forms an activation complex with caspase 9. Although the mechanism(s) regulating mitochondrial permeability and the release of cytochrome C during apoptosis are not fully understood, Bcl-xL, Bcl-2 and Bax apparently influence the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC), which can control cytochrome C release.