title: Apoptosis-inducing factor: vital and lethal.
abstract: Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) is a NADH oxidase with a local redox function that is essential for optimal oxidative phosphorylation and for an efficient anti-oxidant defense. The absence of AIF can cause neurodegeneration, skeleton muscle atrophy and dilated cardiomyopathy. In many models of apoptosis, AIF translocates to the nucleus, where it induces chromatin condensation and DNA degradation. The nuclear localization of AIF can be inhibited by blocking upstream signals of apoptosis. The contribution of AIF to cell death depends on the cell type and apoptotic insult and is only seen when caspases are inhibited or not activated. It is unknown to what extent and through which mechanisms AIF contributes to the induction of cell death. Here, we discuss recent progress in the quest to understand the contribution of AIF to life and death.
authors.affiliation: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, FRE2939, Institut Gustave Roussy, PR1, 39 Rue Camille Desmoulins, F-94805 Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Nazanine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Modjtahedi
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giordanetto
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Madeo
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kroemer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051033:Apoptosis Inducing Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008958:Models, Molecular
chemical_list: D051033:Apoptosis Inducing Factor