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© The Rockefeller University Press, 0021-9525/1998//217 $5.00
The Journal of Cell Biology, Volume 143, Number 1, , 1998 217-224


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Bax-induced Cytochrome C Release from Mitochondria Is Independent of the Permeability Transition Pore but Highly Dependent on Mg2+ Ions



Robert Eskes*, Bruno Antonsson*, Astrid Osen-Sand*, Sylvie Montessuit*, Christoph Richter{ddagger}, Rémy Sadoul*, Gonzalo Mazzei*, Anthony Nichols*, and Jean-Claude Martinou*

* Serono Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland; and {ddagger} ETH Laboratory of Biochemistry, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland

Bcl-2 family members either promote or repress programmed cell death. Bax, a death-promoting member, is a pore-forming, mitochondria-associated protein whose mechanism of action is still unknown. During apoptosis, cytochrome C is released from the mitochondria into the cytosol where it binds to APAF-1, a mammalian homologue of Ced-4, and participates in the activation of caspases. The release of cytochrome C has been postulated to be a consequence of the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP). We now report that Bax is sufficient to trigger the release of cytochrome C from isolated mitochondria. This pathway is distinct from the previously described calcium-inducible, cyclosporin A–sensitive PTP. Rather, the cytochrome C release induced by Bax is facilitated by Mg2+ and cannot be blocked by PTP inhibitors. These results strongly suggest the existence of two distinct mechanisms leading to cytochrome C release: one stimulated by calcium and inhibited by cyclosporin A, the other Bax dependent, Mg2+ sensitive but cyclosporin insensitive.

Key Words: apoptosis • mitochondria • Bax • cytochrome C • permeability transition



Abbreviations used in this paper: BKA, bongkrekic acid; CsA, cyclosporin A; MB, mitochondrial buffer; PTP, permeability transition pore; PT, permeability.

Address all correspondence to J.-C. Martinou, Serono Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 14 Chemin des Aux, 1228 Plan les Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland. Tel.: (41) 22 706 9822. Fax: (41) 22 794 6965. E-mail: jean-claude.martinou.ch_gva03{at}serono.com



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