Title

Assessing Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Permeabilization During Apoptosis

Keywords

Bax and t-Bid; Cell death; Cytochrome c; Fluorescence microscopy; Mitochondrial outer membrane permeability

Abstract

Mitochondria play a pivotal role in the regulation of apoptosis. An imbalance in apoptosis can lead to disease. Unscheduled apoptosis has been linked to neurodegeneration while inhibition of apoptosis can cause cancer. An early and key event during apoptosis is the release of factors from mitochondria. In apoptosis the mitochondrial outer membrane becomes permeable, leading to release of apoptogenic factors into the cytosol. One such factor, cytochrome c, is an electron carrier of the respiratory chain normally trapped within the mitochondrial intermembrane space. Many apoptotic studies investigate mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) by monitoring the release of cytochrome c. Here, we describe three reliable techniques that detect cytochrome c release from mitochondria, through subcellular fractionation or immunocytochemistry and fluorescence microscopy, or isolated mitochondria and recombinant Bax and t-Bid proteins in vitro. These techniques will help to identify mechanisms and characterize factors regulating MOMP. © 2008.

Publication Date

12-1-2008

Publication Title

Methods

Volume

46

Issue

4

Number of Pages

319-323

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymeth.2008.10.019

Socpus ID

56249101739 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/56249101739

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS