Live-cell visualization of cytochrome c: a tool to explore apoptosis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Pessoa
Keyword(s):  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Mitochondrial Outer Membrane ◽  
Cell Toxicity ◽  
Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Permeabilization ◽  
Turn On ◽  
Point Of No Return ◽  
Convenient Approach ◽  
Cyt C ◽  
Restoration Strategies

Apoptosis dysfunction is associated with several malignancies, including cancer and autoimmune diseases. Apoptosis restoration could be an attractive therapeutic approach to those diseases. Mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization is regarded as the point of no return in the ‘classical’ apoptosis triggering pathway. Cytoplasmic release of cytochrome c (cyt c), a mitochondrial electron transporter, is a prominent indicator of such critical step. Therefore, visualizing cyt c efflux in living cells is a convenient approach to address apoptosis triggering and monitor performance of apoptosis restoration strategies. Recent years have been prolific in the development of biosensors to visualize cyt c mitochondrial efflux in living cells, by fluorescence microscopy. These biosensors specifically detect endogenous, untagged cyt c, while showing efficient cellular uptake and reduced cell toxicity. A common aspect is their fluorescence quenching in the absence or presence of bound cyt c, resulting in two main biosensor types: ‘turn ON’ and ‘turn OFF’. In some of these systems, fluorescence intensity of fluorophore-bound aptamers is enhanced upon cyt c binding. In others, cyt c binding to quantum dots quenches their fluorescence. In the present minireview, I describe these biosensors and briefly introduce some hypotheses that could be addressed using these novel tools.

scholarly journals Mitochondrial release of apoptosis-inducing factor occurs downstream of cytochrome c release in response to several proapoptotic stimuli

2002 ◽  
Vol 159 (6) ◽  
pp. 923-929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damien Arnoult ◽  
Philippe Parone ◽  
Jean-Claude Martinou ◽  
Bruno Antonsson ◽  
Jérôme Estaquier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Actinomycin D ◽  
Membrane Permeabilization ◽  
Mitochondrial Outer Membrane ◽  
Simple Explanation ◽  
Cytochrome C Release ◽  
Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Permeabilization ◽  
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane ◽  
Apoptosis Inducing Factor

Mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization by proapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, such as Bax, plays a crucial role in apoptosis induction. However, whether this only causes the intracytosolic release of inducers of caspase-dependent death, such as cytochrome c, or also of caspase-independent death, such as apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) remains unknown. Here, we show that on isolated mitochondria, Bax causes the release of cytochrome c, but not of AIF, and the association of AIF with the mitochondrial inner membrane provides a simple explanation for its lack of release upon Bax-mediated outer membrane permeabilization. In cells overexpressing Bax or treated either with the Bax- or Bak-dependent proapoptotic drugs staurosporine or actinomycin D, or with hydrogen peroxide, caspase inhibitors did not affect the intracytosolic translocation of cytochrome c, but prevented that of AIF. These results provide a paradigm for mitochondria-dependent death pathways in which AIF cannot substitute for caspase executioners because its intracytosolic release occurs downstream of that of cytochrome c.

scholarly journals Resistance to Granzyme B-mediated Cytochrome c Release in Bak-deficient Cells

2001 ◽  
Vol 194 (9) ◽  
pp. 1325-1338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gui-Qiang Wang ◽  
Eva Wieckowski ◽  
Leslie A. Goldstein ◽  
Brian R. Gastman ◽  
Asaf Rabinovitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Granzyme B ◽  
Membrane Permeabilization ◽  
Mitochondrial Outer Membrane ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Cytochrome C Release ◽  
Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Permeabilization ◽  
S 100

Granzyme B (GrB), a serine protease with substrate specificity similar to the caspase family, is a major component of granule-mediated cytotoxicity of T lymphocytes. Although GrB can directly activate caspases, it induces apoptosis predominantly via Bid cleavage, mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization, and cytochrome c release. To study the molecular regulators for GrB-mediated mitochondrial apoptotic events, we used a CTL-free cytotoxicity system, wherein target cells are treated with purified GrB and replication-deficient adenovirus (Ad). We report here that the Bcl-2 proapoptotic family member, Bak, plays a dominant role in GrB-mediated mitochondrial apoptotic events. A variant of Jurkat cells, deficient in Bak expression, was resistant to GrB/Ad-mediated apoptosis, as determined by lack of membranous phosphatidylserine exposure, lack of DNA breaks, lack of mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization, and unchanged expression of inner mitochondrial membrane cardiolipin. The resistance of Bak-deficient cells to GrB/Ad cytotoxicity was reversed by transduction of the Bak gene into these cells. The requirement for both Bid and Bak, was further demonstrated in a cell-free system using purified mitochondria and S-100 cytosol. Purified mitochondria from Bid knockout mice, but not from Bax knockout mice, failed to release cytochrome c in response to autologous S-100 and GrB. Also, Bak-deficient mitochondria did not release cytochrome c in response to GrB-treated cytosol unless recombinant Bak protein was added. These results are the first to report a role for Bak in GrB-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis. This study demonstrates that GrB-cleaved Bid, which differs in size and site of cleavage from caspase-8-cleaved Bid, utilizes Bak for cytochrome c release, and therefore, suggests that deficiency in Bak may serve as a mechanism of immune evasion for tumor or viral infected cells.

scholarly journals The Effects of a Mitochondrial Targeted Peptide (Elamipretide/SS31) on BAX Recruitment and Activation During Apoptosis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Grosser ◽  
Rachel Fehrman ◽  
Dennis Keefe ◽  
Martin Redmon ◽  
Robert Nickells
Keyword(s):  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Mitochondrial Outer Membrane ◽  
Intrinsic Apoptosis ◽  
Mitochondrial Fragmentation ◽  
Cytochrome C Release ◽  
Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Permeabilization ◽  
Bax Protein ◽  
Induced Apoptosis ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Peptide Treatment

Abstract Objective: Elamipretide (SS31) is a mitochondria-targeted peptide that has reported functions of stabilizing mitochondrial cristae structure and improving mitochondrial bioenergetics. Several studies have documented cell protective features of this peptide, including impairment of intrinsic apoptosis by inhibiting the recruitment and activation of the pro-apoptotic BAX protein. We used live-cell imaging of ARPE-19 cells expressing fluorescently labeled BAX, cytochrome c, and a mitochondrial marker to investigate the effect of elamipretide on the kinetics of BAX recruitment, mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (as a function of cytochrome c release), and mitochondrial fragmentation, respectively. Result: In nucleofected and plated ARPE-19 cells, elamipretide accelerated the formation of larger mitochondria. In the presence of the apoptotic stimulator, staurosporine, cells treated with elamipretide exhibited moderately slower rates of BAX recruitment. Peptide treatment, however, did not significantly delay the onset of BAX recruitment or the final total amount of BAX that was recruited. Additionally, elamipretide showed no impairment or delay of cytochrome c release or mitochondrial fragmentation, two events associated with normal BAX activation during cell death. These results indicate that the protective effect of elamipretide is not at the level of BAX activity to induce pro-apoptotic mitochondrial dysfunction after the initiation of staurosporine-induced apoptosis.

Mechanisms of p53-dependent apoptosis

2001 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 684-688 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Schuler ◽  
D. R. Green
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Apoptotic Cell ◽  
Mitochondrial Outer Membrane ◽  
Caspase Activation ◽  
Caspase 9 ◽  
High Molecular Weight Complex ◽  
Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Permeabilization ◽  
Cellular Stresses ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

Cellular stresses, such as growth factor deprivation, DNA damage or oncogene expression, lead to stabilization and activation of the p53 tumour suppressor protein. Depending on the cellular context, this results in one of two different outcomes: cell cycle arrest or apoptotic cell death. Cell death induced through the p53 pathway is executed by the caspase proteinases, which, by cleaving their substrates, lead to the characteristic apoptotic phenotype. Caspase activation by p53 occurs through the release of apoptogenic factors from the mitochondria, including cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO. Released cytochrome c allows the formation of a high-molecular weight complex, the apoptosome, which consists of the adapter protein Apaf-1 and caspase 9, which is activated following recruitment into the apoptosome. Active caspase 9 then cleaves and activates the effector caspases, such as caspases-3 and -7, which execute the death program. Released Smac/DIABLO facilitates caspase activation through repression of the IAP caspase inhibitor proteins. The release of mitochondrial apoptogenic factors is regulated by the pro- and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, which either induce or prevent the permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane. The mechanism by which p53 signals to the Bcl-2 family proteins is unclear. It was shown that some of the pro-apoptotic family members, such as Bax, Noxa or PUMA, are transcriptional targets of p53. In addition, transcription-independent, pro-apoptotic activities of p53 have been described. The elucidation of the p53-dependent pathway, resulting in mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization through the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, is a key to unveiling the mechanism of stress-induced apoptosis.

scholarly journals Requirement of Apaf-1 for mitochondrial events and the cleavage or activation of all procaspases during genotoxic stress-induced apoptosis

2007 ◽  
Vol 405 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily E. Franklin ◽  
John D. Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Genotoxic Stress ◽  
Jurkat Cells ◽  
Mitochondrial Outer Membrane ◽  
Cytochrome C Release ◽  
Drug Induced ◽  
Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Permeabilization ◽  
Caspase 2 ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

Sequential activation of caspases is critical for the execution of apoptosis. Recent evidence suggests caspase 2 is a significant upstream caspase capable of initiating mitochondrial events, such as the release of cytochrome c. In particular, in vitro studies using recombinant proteins have shown that cleaved caspase 2 can induce mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization directly or by cleaving the BH3-only protein BID (BH3 interacting domain death agonist). However, whether interchain cleavage or activation of procaspase 2 occurs prior to Apaf-1-mediated procaspase 9 activation under more natural conditions remains unresolved. In the present study, we show that Apaf-1-deficient Jurkat T-lymphocytes and mouse embryonic fibroblasts were highly resistant to DNA-damage-induced apoptosis and failed to cleave or activate any apoptotic procaspase, including caspase 2. Significantly, drug-induced cytochrome c release and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential were inhibited in cells lacking Apaf-1. By comparison, procaspase proteolysis and apoptosis were only delayed slightly in Apaf-1-deficient Jurkat cells upon treatment with anti-Fas antibody. Our data support a model in which Apaf-1 is necessary for the cleavage or activation of all procaspases and the promotion of mitochondrial apoptotic events induced by genotoxic drugs.

scholarly journals The effects of a mitochondrial targeted peptide (elamipretide/SS31) on BAX recruitment and activation during apoptosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua A. Grosser ◽  
Rachel L. Fehrman ◽  
Dennis Keefe ◽  
Martin Redmon ◽  
Robert W. Nickells
Keyword(s):  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Mitochondrial Outer Membrane ◽  
Intrinsic Apoptosis ◽  
Mitochondrial Fragmentation ◽  
Cytochrome C Release ◽  
Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Permeabilization ◽  
Bax Protein ◽  
Induced Apoptosis ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Peptide Treatment

Abstract Objective Elamipretide (SS31) is a mitochondria-targeted peptide that has reported functions of stabilizing mitochondrial cristae structure and improving mitochondrial bioenergetics. Several studies have documented cell protective features of this peptide, including impairment of intrinsic apoptosis by inhibiting the recruitment and activation of the pro-apoptotic BAX protein. We used live-cell imaging of ARPE-19 cells expressing fluorescently labeled BAX, cytochrome c, and a mitochondrial marker to investigate the effect of elamipretide on the kinetics of BAX recruitment, mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (as a function of cytochrome c release), and mitochondrial fragmentation, respectively. Result In nucleofected and plated ARPE-19 cells, elamipretide accelerated the formation of larger mitochondria. In the presence of the apoptotic stimulator, staurosporine, cells treated with elamipretide exhibited moderately slower rates of BAX recruitment. Peptide treatment, however, did not significantly delay the onset of BAX recruitment or the final total amount of BAX that was recruited. Additionally, elamipretide showed no impairment or delay of cytochrome c release or mitochondrial fragmentation, two events associated with normal BAX activation during cell death. These results indicate that the protective effect of elamipretide is not at the level of BAX activity to induce pro-apoptotic mitochondrial dysfunction after the initiation of staurosporine-induced apoptosis.

scholarly journals Mitochondrial cytochrome c release may occur by volume-dependent mechanisms not involving permeability transition

2004 ◽  
Vol 378 (1) ◽  
pp. 213-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir GOGVADZE ◽  
John D. ROBERTSON ◽  
Mari ENOKSSON ◽  
Boris ZHIVOTOVSKY ◽  
Sten ORRENIUS
Keyword(s):  
Cytochrome C ◽  
In Vitro Model ◽  
Mitochondrial Permeability Transition ◽  
Permeability Transition ◽  
Mitochondrial Outer Membrane ◽  
Cytochrome C Release ◽  
Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Permeabilization ◽  
Mitochondrial Volume ◽  
Vitro Model

The mechanisms regulating mitochondrial outer-membrane permeabilization and the release of cytochrome c during apoptosis remain controversial. In the present study, we show in an in vitro model system that the release of cytochrome c may occur via moderate modulation of mitochondrial volume, irrespective of the mechanism leading to the mitochondrial swelling. In contrast with mitochondrial permeability transition-dependent release of cytochrome c, in the present study mitochondria remain intact and functionally active.

scholarly journals Analysis of endogenous Bax complexes during apoptosis using blue native PAGE: implications for Bax activation and oligomerization

2008 ◽  
Vol 412 (2) ◽  
pp. 347-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony J. Valentijn ◽  
John-Paul Upton ◽  
Andrew P. Gilmore
Keyword(s):  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Mitochondrial Outer Membrane ◽  
Native Page ◽  
Membrane Pores ◽  
Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Permeabilization ◽  
Blue Native Page ◽  
Family Protein ◽  
Ecm Extracellular Matrix ◽  
Blue Native

Bax, a pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein, translocates to mitochondria during apoptosis, where it causes MOMP (mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization). MOMP releases pro-apoptotic factors, such as cytochrome c and SMAC (second mitochondrial activator of caspases)/Diablo, into the cytosol where they activate caspases. It is often inferred that Bax activation occurs in a single step, a conformational change in the protein causing its translocation and oligomerization into high-molecular-mass membrane pores. However, a number of studies have shown that Bax translocation to mitochondria does not necessarily induce MOMP. Indeed, Bax translocation can occur several hours prior to release of cytochrome c, indicating that its regulation may be a complex series of events, some of which occur following its association with mitochondria. In the present study, we have examined endogenous Bax in epithelial cells undergoing anoikis, a physiologically relevant form of apoptosis that occurs when normal cells lose contact with the ECM (extracellular matrix). Using BN-PAGE (blue native PAGE), we show that Bax forms a 200 kDa complex before caspase activation. Furthermore, Bax in this 200 kDa complex is not in the active conformation, as determined by exposure of N-terminal epitopes. These results indicate that Bax oligomerization is an event that must be interpreted differently from the currently held view that it represents the apoptotic pore.

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