Biomaterial Database

BAK/BAX activation and cytochrome c release assays using isolated mitochondria. 2013

Thibaud T Renault, and Konstantinos V Floros, and Jerry E Chipuk

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Oncological Sciences, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1130, New York, NY 10029, USA.

The mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis proceeds when the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) is compromised by the pro-apoptotic BCL-2 family members, BAK and BAX. Once activated, BAK and BAX form proteolipid pores in the OMM leading to mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP), and the release of inner membrane space proteins, such as cytochrome c, which promotes caspase activation. The use of isolated mitochondria has been instrumental to understanding the key interactions necessary to engage BAK and BAX activation, MOMP, and apoptosis. Furthermore, it is possible to biochemically define the relationships between BCL-2 family function and mitochondrial physiology using isolated systems. Our laboratory uses freshly isolated mitochondria from numerous sources to better understand BCL-2 family function and requirements for BAK and BAX activation. Here, we will discuss commonly used in vitro techniques to perform MOMP and cytochrome c release assays; and provide several key methodologies to implicate BAK and BAX activity in these processes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008930	Mitochondria, Liver	Mitochondria in hepatocytes. As in all mitochondria, there are an outer membrane and an inner membrane, together creating two separate mitochondrial compartments: the internal matrix space and a much narrower intermembrane space. In the liver mitochondrion, an estimated 67% of the total mitochondrial proteins is located in the matrix. (From Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2d ed, p343-4)	Liver Mitochondria,Liver Mitochondrion,Mitochondrion, Liver
D004789	Enzyme Activation	Conversion of an inactive form of an enzyme to one possessing metabolic activity. It includes 1, activation by ions (activators); 2, activation by cofactors (coenzymes); and 3, conversion of an enzyme precursor (proenzyme or zymogen) to an active enzyme.	Activation, Enzyme,Activations, Enzyme,Enzyme Activations
D005786	Gene Expression Regulation	Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control (induction or repression) of gene action at the level of transcription or translation.	Gene Action Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression,Expression Regulation, Gene,Regulation, Gene Action,Regulation, Gene Expression
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001681	Biological Assay	A method of measuring the effects of a biologically active substance using an intermediate in vivo or in vitro tissue or cell model under controlled conditions. It includes virulence studies in animal fetuses in utero, mouse convulsion bioassay of insulin, quantitation of tumor-initiator systems in mouse skin, calculation of potentiating effects of a hormonal factor in an isolated strip of contracting stomach muscle, etc.	Bioassay,Assay, Biological,Assays, Biological,Biologic Assay,Biologic Assays,Assay, Biologic,Assays, Biologic,Bioassays,Biological Assays
D017209	Apoptosis	A regulated cell death mechanism characterized by distinctive morphologic changes in the nucleus and cytoplasm, including the endonucleolytic cleavage of genomic DNA, at regularly spaced, internucleosomal sites, i.e., DNA FRAGMENTATION. It is genetically programmed and serves as a balance to mitosis in regulating the size of animal tissues and in mediating pathologic processes associated with tumor growth.	Apoptosis, Extrinsic Pathway,Apoptosis, Intrinsic Pathway,Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis,Classic Apoptosis,Classical Apoptosis,Programmed Cell Death,Programmed Cell Death, Type I,Apoptoses, Extrinsic Pathway,Apoptoses, Intrinsic Pathway,Apoptosis, Caspase-Dependent,Apoptosis, Classic,Apoptosis, Classical,Caspase Dependent Apoptosis,Cell Death, Programmed,Classic Apoptoses,Extrinsic Pathway Apoptoses,Extrinsic Pathway Apoptosis,Intrinsic Pathway Apoptoses,Intrinsic Pathway Apoptosis
D045304	Cytochromes c	Cytochromes of the c type that are found in eukaryotic MITOCHONDRIA. They serve as redox intermediates that accept electrons from MITOCHONDRIAL ELECTRON TRANSPORT COMPLEX III and transfer them to MITOCHONDRIAL ELECTRON TRANSPORT COMPLEX IV.	Cytochrome c,Ferricytochrome c,Ferrocytochrome c,Apocytochrome C
D050998	bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein	A multi-domain mitochondrial membrane protein and member of the bcl-2 Protein family. Bak protein interacts with TUMOR SUPPRESSOR PROTEIN P53 and promotes APOPTOSIS.	Bak Protein,N-Bak Protein,bcl2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein,bcl 2 Homologous Antagonist Killer Protein,bcl2 Homologous Antagonist Killer Protein
D051028	bcl-2-Associated X Protein	A member of the Bcl-2 protein family and homologous partner of C-BCL-2 PROTO-ONCOGENE PROTEIN. It regulates the release of CYTOCHROME C and APOPTOSIS INDUCING FACTOR from the MITOCHONDRIA. Several isoforms of BCL2-associated X protein occur due to ALTERNATIVE SPLICING of the mRNA for this protein.	Bax Protein,Bax-alpha Protein,Bax-omega Protein,Bax-sigma Protein,Bax Apoptosis Regulator Protein,Bax-beta Protein,Bax-delta Protein,bcl2-Associated X Protein,bcl2-Associated X Protein Isoform alpha,bcl2-Associated X Protein Isoform beta,bcl2-Associated X Protein Isoform delta,bcl2-Associated X Protein Isoform omega,bcl2-Associated X Protein Isoform sigma,Bax alpha Protein,Bax beta Protein,Bax delta Protein,Bax omega Protein,Bax sigma Protein,Protein, bcl-2-Associated X,X Protein, bcl-2-Associated,bcl 2 Associated X Protein,bcl2 Associated X Protein,bcl2 Associated X Protein Isoform alpha,bcl2 Associated X Protein Isoform beta,bcl2 Associated X Protein Isoform delta,bcl2 Associated X Protein Isoform omega,bcl2 Associated X Protein Isoform sigma