Newcomers in the process of mitochondrial permeabilization.
Under stress conditions, apoptogenic factors normally sequestered in the mitochondrial intermembrane space are released into the cytosol, caspases are activated and cells die by apoptosis. Although the precise mechanism that leads to the permeabilization of mitochondria is still unclear, the activation of multidomain pro-apoptotic proteins of the Bcl-2 family, such as Bax and Bak, is evidently crucial. Regulation of Bax and Bak by other members of the family has been known for a long time, but recent evidence suggests that additional unrelated proteins participate in the process, both as inhibitors and activators. The important rearrangements mitochondrial lipids undergo during apoptosis play a role in the permeabilization process and this role is probably more central than first envisioned.
Lucken-Ardjomande
Safa
S
Department of Cell Biology, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
Martinou
Jean-Claude
JC
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002308:Cardiolipins / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology*; D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins; D000083162:Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010539:Permeability; D018272:Porins / Q000502:physiology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000502:physiology; D050994:Voltage-Dependent Anion Channels; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
C494772:BAK1 protein, human; C494826:BAX protein, human; D002308:Cardiolipins; D007473:Ion Channels; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins; D000083162:Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore; D018272:Porins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D050994:Voltage-Dependent Anion Channels; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein