Mitochondrial intermembrane proteins in cell death.
Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death important in the development and tissue homeostasis of multicellular organisms. Mitochondria have, next to their function in respiration, an important role in the apoptotic-signaling pathway. Malfunctioning at any level of the cell is eventually translated in the release of apoptogenic factors from the mitochondrial intermembrane space resulting in the organized demise of the cell. Some of these factors, such as AIF and endonuclease G, appear to be highly conserved during evolution. Other factors, like cytochrome c, have gained their apoptogenic function later during evolution. In this review, we focus on the role of cytochrome c, AIF, endonuclease G, Smac/DIABLO, Omi/HtrA2, Acyl-CoA-binding protein, and polypyrimidine tract-binding protein in the initiation and modulation of cell death in different model organisms. These mitochondrial factors may contribute to both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent processes in apoptotic cell death.
Molecular Signaling and Cell Death Unit, Department of Molecular Biomedical Research, VIB and Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Maria
M
van Gurp
Nele
N
Festjens
Geert
G
van Loo
Xavier
X
Saelens
Peter
P
Vandenabeele
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D051033:Apoptosis Inducing Factor; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000502:physiology; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases / Q000502:physiology; D005420:Flavoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D000074923:High-Temperature Requirement A Serine Peptidase 2; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000502:physiology
D051033:Apoptosis Inducing Factor; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003574:Cytochrome c Group; C412403:DIABLO protein, human; D005420:Flavoproteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases; C052391:endonuclease G; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C000615914:HTRA2 protein, human; D000074923:High-Temperature Requirement A Serine Peptidase 2