Mitochondria as Signaling Platforms

Abstract This chapter provides an overview of the roles of mitochondria as whole players in signaling pathways. This includes both the signaling of processes that directly involve mitochondria, such as mitophagy, and processes in which mitochondria are not involved directly but contribute as a major modulator, such as Ca 2 + -signaling, or as a main player, such as cell death. Also, recent discoveries pointing at the signaling function of metabolites originating from mitochondria, such as tricarboxylic acid cycle products and reactive oxygen species, and at the role of mitochondria in general physiological functions, such as protein quality control and innate immunity response, are presented.