Final answer:
Apoptosis is initiated through the intrinsic pathway when cytochrome c leaks into the cytoplasm and binds to adaptor proteins, forming a complex that activates caspases for the cell's auto-digestion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Leakage of cytochrome c to the cytoplasm may trigger apoptosis through the intrinsic pathway. Cytochrome c is a peripheral membrane protein in the mitochondria, loosely attached to the cristae membrane. When it is released into the cytoplasm, it associates with adaptor proteins to form a complex, which then promotes the activation of procaspases to caspases, initiating the caspase cascade responsible for the cell's auto-digestion in apoptosis.
Apoptosis is a process of programmed cell death that occurs in both normal cellular development and in response to cellular damage. The intrinsic pathway for initiating apoptosis is a central mechanism through which cells can safely and orderly dismantle themselves without harming surrounding tissues or triggering an inflammatory response. This pathway involves the release of apoptosis-inducing factors like cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytoplasm, leading to the activation of caspases.