Bax and Bak coalesce into novel mitochondria-associated clusters during apoptosis.
Bax is a member of the Bcl-2 family of proteins known to regulate mitochondria-dependent programmed cell death. Early in apoptosis, Bax translocates from the cytosol to the mitochondrial membrane. We have identified by confocal and electron microscopy a novel step in the Bax proapoptotic mechanism immediately subsequent to mitochondrial translocation. Bax leaves the mitochondrial membranes and coalesces into large clusters containing thousands of Bax molecules that remain adjacent to mitochondria. Bak, a close homologue of Bax, colocalizes in these apoptotic clusters in contrast to other family members, Bid and Bad, which circumscribe the outer mitochondrial membrane throughout cell death progression. We found the formation of Bax and Bak apoptotic clusters to be caspase independent and inhibited completely and specifically by Bcl-X(L), correlating cluster formation with cytotoxic activity. Our results reveal the importance of a novel structure formed by certain Bcl-2 family members during the process of cell death.
Nechushtan
A
A
Biochemistry Section, Surgical Neurology Branch, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Smith
C L
CL
Lamensdorf
I
I
Yoon
S H
SH
Youle
R J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D051023:BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein; D019556:COS Cells; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein
C494819:BAD protein, human; C494772:BAK1 protein, human; C494826:BAX protein, human; C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D051023:BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein; C494814:BID protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein