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Published online 11 June 2001. doi:10.1083/jcb.153.6.1265
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© The Rockefeller University Press, 0021-9525/2001//1265 $5.00
The Journal of Cell Biology, Volume 153, Number 6, , 2001 1265-1276

Original Article

Bax and Bak Coalesce into Novel Mitochondria-Associated Clusters during Apoptosis



Amotz Nechushtana, Carolyn L. Smithb, Itschak Lamensdorfc, Soo-Han Yoona, and Richard J. Youlea

a Biochemistry Section, Surgical Neurology Branch,
b Light Imaging Facility, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
c Clinical Neuroscience Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Biochemistry Section, Surgical Neurology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Dr., Rm. 5D37, Bethesda, MD 20892.(301) 402-0380(301) 496-6628

youle{at}helix.nih.gov

Bax is a member of the Bcl-2 family of proteins known to regulate mitochondria-dependent programmed cell death. Early in apoptosis, Bax translocates from the cytosol to the mitochondrial membrane. We have identified by confocal and electron microscopy a novel step in the Bax proapoptotic mechanism immediately subsequent to mitochondrial translocation. Bax leaves the mitochondrial membranes and coalesces into large clusters containing thousands of Bax molecules that remain adjacent to mitochondria. Bak, a close homologue of Bax, colocalizes in these apoptotic clusters in contrast to other family members, Bid and Bad, which circumscribe the outer mitochondrial membrane throughout cell death progression. We found the formation of Bax and Bak apoptotic clusters to be caspase independent and inhibited completely and specifically by Bcl-XL, correlating cluster formation with cytotoxic activity. Our results reveal the importance of a novel structure formed by certain Bcl-2 family members during the process of cell death.

Key Words: apoptosis • Bcl-2 • green fluorescent protein • mitochondria • clusters

Abbreviations used in this paper: ANT, adenine nucleotide transporter; BH, Bcl-2 homology; CFP, cyan fluorescent protein; EGFP, enhanced GFP; GFP, green fluorescent protein; STS, staurosporine; VDAC, voltage-dependent anion channel; YFP, yellow fluorescent protein.


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