The 'harmless' release of cytochrome c.
Release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria plays an integral role in apoptosis; however, the mechanism by which cytochrome c is released remains one of the conundrums that has occupied the field. Recently, evidence has emerged that the commitment to death may be regulated downstream of cytochrome c release; therefore the mechanism of release must be subtle enough for the cell to recover from this event. In this review, we discuss the evidence that cytochrome c release is mediated by Bcl-2 family proteins in a process that involves only outer membrane permeability but leaves inner membrane energization, protein import function and the ultrastructure of mitochondria intact. Cell Death and Differentiation (2000) 7, 1192 - 1199.
Von Ahsen
O
O
Division of Cellular Immunology, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, 10355 Science Center Drive, San Diego, California, CA 92121, USA.
Waterhouse
N J
NJ
Kuwana
T
T
Newmeyer
D D
DD
Green
D R
DR
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000502:physiology; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
D003574:Cytochrome c Group; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2