Mitochondria make periodically a come back into the Science, showing new roles in new processes. Since its definitive identification and isolation almost 60 years ago, major milestones can be found throughout the subsequent decades 1. From endosymbiotic theory to its central role in metabolism and bioenergetics, the study of mitochondria is far from being exhausted. And as arguments of the outstanding questions still to be solved in this field, a few examples of active investigations where mitochondria have essential role are presented in this topic. Mitochondria and the reactions taking place within the organelle occupy a central position on any metabolic chart. For performing these reactions, there is a vast majority of molecules that have to be imported into the mitochondria. For instance, cholesterol biosynthesis takes place in the endoplasmic reticulum or in peroxisomes and has to be up taken in mitochondria by trans locators. Among them, TSPO, formerly known as peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), is a protein that has been actively studied because of its role as ubiquitous high affinity cholesterol transporter found primarily in the outer mitochondrial membrane of steroid-synthesizing cells 2. But, this protein, which has been extensively studied in a monographic in this topic, has an active role in modulating mitochondria -related cell death processes.
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