title: Bax translocation to mitochondria subsequent to a rapid loss of mitochondrial membrane potential.
abstract: Bax, a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family, is a cytosolic protein that inserts into mitochondrial membranes upon induction of cell death. Using the green fluorescent protein fused to Bax (GFP-Bax) to quantitate mitochondrial binding in living cells we have investigated the cause of Bax association with mitochondria and the time course relative to endogenous and induced changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)). We have found that staurosporine (STS) induces a loss in DeltaPsi(m) before GFP-Bax translocation can be measured. The onset of the DeltaPsi(m) loss is followed by a rapid and complete collapse of DeltaPsi(m) which is followed by Bax association with mitochondria. The mitochondria uncoupler FCCP, in the presence of the F(1)-F(0) ATPase inhibitor oligomycin, can trigger Bax translocation to mitochondria suggesting that when ATP levels are maintained a collapse of DeltaPsi(m) induces Bax translocation. Neither FCCP nor oligomycin alone alters Bax location. Bax association with mitochondria is also triggered by inhibitors of the electron transport chain, antimycin and rotenone, compounds that collapse DeltaPsi(m) without inducing rapid ATP hydrolysis that typically occurs with uncouplers such as FCCP. Taken together, our results suggest that alterations in mitochondrial energization associated with apoptosis can initiate Bax docking to mitochondria.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Smaili
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Youle
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D019556:COS Cells; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002259:Carbonyl Cyanide p-Trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone / Q000494:pharmacology; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004579:Electron Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009840:Oligomycins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011485:Protein Binding; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D019311:Staurosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D009840:Oligomycins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D002259:Carbonyl Cyanide p-Trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D019311:Staurosporine; D002118:Calcium