A novel, high conductance channel of mitochondria linked to apoptosis in mammalian cells and Bax expression in yeast. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • During apoptosis, proapoptotic factors are released from mitochondria by as yet undefined mechanisms. Patch-clamping of mitochondria and proteoliposomes formed from mitochondrial outer membranes of mammalian (FL5.12) cells has uncovered a novel ion channel whose activity correlates with onset of apoptosis. The pore diameter inferred from the largest conductance state of this channel is approximately 4 nm, sufficient to allow diffusion of cytochrome c and even larger proteins. The activity of the channel is affected by Bcl-2 family proteins in a manner consistent with their pro- or antiapoptotic properties. Thus, the channel activity correlates with presence of proapoptotic Bax in the mitochondrial outer membrane and is absent in mitochondria from cells overexpressing antiapoptotic Bcl-2. Also, a similar channel activity is found in mitochondrial outer membranes of yeast expressing human Bax. These findings implicate this channel, named mitochondrial apoptosis-induced channel, as a candidate for the outer-membrane pore through which cytochrome c and possibly other factors exit mitochondria during apoptosis.

publication date

  • November 26, 2001

Research

keywords

  • Apoptosis
  • Ion Channels
  • Mitochondria
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC2150879

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0035956426

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1083/jcb.200107057

PubMed ID

  • 11724814

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 155

issue

  • 5