TY - JOUR
T1 - Electrophysiological study of a novel large pore formed by Bax and the voltage-dependent anion channel that is permeable to cytochrome c
AU - Shimizu, Shigeomi
AU - Ide, Toru
AU - Yanagida, Toshio
AU - Tsujimoto, Yoshihide
PY - 2000/4/21
Y1 - 2000/4/21
N2 - The Bcl-2 family of proteins, consisting of anti-apoptotic and pro- apoptotic members, regulates cell death by controlling mitochondrial membrane permeability that is crucial for apoptotic signal transduction. We have recently shown that some of these proteins, such as Bcl-x(L), Bax, and Bak, directly modulate the mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) and thus regulate apoptogenic cytochrome c release and potential loss. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of VDAC regulation by Bcl-2 family proteins, an electrophysiological study was carried out. It was found that VDAC and pro-apoptotic Bax created a large pore, with conductance levels 4- and 10-fold greater than those of the VDAC and Bax channels, respectively. Although the VDAC and Bax channels both show ion selectivity and voltage- dependent modulation of their activity, the VDAC-Bax channel had neither of their properties. Anti-apoptotic Bcl-x(L) and its BH4 oligopeptide completely closed the VDAC, in contrast to the Bax. Cytochrome c passed through a single VDAC-Bax channel but not through the VDAC or Bax channel in a planar lipid bilayer. These data provide direct evidence that VDAC forms a novel large pore together with Bax.
AB - The Bcl-2 family of proteins, consisting of anti-apoptotic and pro- apoptotic members, regulates cell death by controlling mitochondrial membrane permeability that is crucial for apoptotic signal transduction. We have recently shown that some of these proteins, such as Bcl-x(L), Bax, and Bak, directly modulate the mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) and thus regulate apoptogenic cytochrome c release and potential loss. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of VDAC regulation by Bcl-2 family proteins, an electrophysiological study was carried out. It was found that VDAC and pro-apoptotic Bax created a large pore, with conductance levels 4- and 10-fold greater than those of the VDAC and Bax channels, respectively. Although the VDAC and Bax channels both show ion selectivity and voltage- dependent modulation of their activity, the VDAC-Bax channel had neither of their properties. Anti-apoptotic Bcl-x(L) and its BH4 oligopeptide completely closed the VDAC, in contrast to the Bax. Cytochrome c passed through a single VDAC-Bax channel but not through the VDAC or Bax channel in a planar lipid bilayer. These data provide direct evidence that VDAC forms a novel large pore together with Bax.
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U2 - 10.1074/jbc.275.16.12321
DO - 10.1074/jbc.275.16.12321
M3 - Article
C2 - 10766872
AN - SCOPUS:0034697365
VL - 275
SP - 12321
EP - 12325
JO - Journal of Biological Chemistry
JF - Journal of Biological Chemistry
SN - 0021-9258
IS - 16
ER -