Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Collins Waguia Kontchou, Ian E. Gentle, Arnim Weber, Axel Schoeniger, Frank Edlich, Georg Haecker
Summary: During infection of human cells, Chlamydia trachomatis inhibits apoptosis by blocking the activation of the effectors Bak and Bax, upregulating the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1, reducing Bax oligomerization and association with the outer mitochondrial membrane, and inhibiting conformational changes of Bak. The protective effect of Chlamydia infection on mitochondria is lost upon protease digestion, and it is dependent on the regulator VDAC2. The outer membrane protein OmpA of Chlamydia can associate with mitochondria and mimic the anti-apoptotic effect of infection.
CELL DEATH AND DIFFERENTIATION
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Jerry Edward Chipuk, Jarvier N. Mohammed, Jesse D. Gelles, Yiyang Chen
Summary: Mitochondria play crucial roles not only in maintaining organismal homeostasis and contributing to human diseases, but also in regulating regulated cell death processes. They serve as essential compartments for the production and presentation of key molecules, as well as platforms for enabling, initiating, and executing regulated cell death.
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Xue Li, Pingping Liu, Yunfeng Zhao, Lianfu Zhang, Jian Zhang
Summary: The study found that oxidative stress can activate the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in fish, promoting protein degradation, and ultimately leading to the deterioration of fish muscle.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Boin Lee, Jae-Yeong Kim, Young-Min Choi
Summary: This study investigated the association between the expression levels of apoptosis-related molecules and tenderness variation in Hanwoo beef. The results showed that the combination of apoptotic and anti-apoptotic factors at 45 min post-mortem were associated with beef tenderness attributes. However, the impact of these factors on tenderness diminished at 24 h post-mortem.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hagai Rottenberg
Summary: It is widely reported that the mitochondrial membrane potential, increment ψm, is reduced in aging animals. It was recently suggested that the lower increment ψm in aged animals modulates mitochondrial bioenergetics and that this effect is a major cause of aging since artificially increased increment ψm in C. elegans increased lifespan. The activation of the voltage-gated mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) is the main cause of the increase in depolarized mitochondria in aged cells, inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation, releasing calcium and mROS, and depleting NAD(+), thereby accelerating degenerative diseases and aging. The reported lifespan extension by artificially generated increment ψm in C. elegans is best explained by inhibition of the voltage-gated mPTP.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yulia Kushnareva, Vivian Moraes, Julian Suess, Bjoern Peters, Donald D. Newmeyer, Tomomi Kuwana
Summary: Mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy play an important role in preventing apoptotic dysregulation and oncogenesis. In cells undergoing cell-intrinsic apoptosis, minority MOMP can occur, where cells survive despite low levels of caspase activation. To understand the genes involved in minority MOMP, an imaging-based siRNA screen was conducted, identifying multiple candidate genes related to MQC. Furthermore, functional MQC was found to be important for reducing the frequency of minority MOMP.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Latoya McGlorthan, Ana Paucarmayta, Yovanni Casablanca, G. Larry Maxwell, Viqar Syed
Summary: The study demonstrates that progesterone and calcitriol induce apoptosis in cancer cells through activation of different caspase enzymes, inhibiting their proliferation.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shashank Dadsena, Andreas Jenner, Ana J. Garcia-Saez
Summary: Apoptotic cell death plays a crucial role in development and tissue homeostasis, and MOMP is a central event in this process. Researchers focus on the interaction network of Bcl-2 family proteins and other regulatory elements, emphasizing the importance of single-molecule techniques in uncovering apoptosis regulation mechanisms.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hector Flores-Romero, Shashank Dadsena, Ana J. Garcia-Saez
Summary: Mitochondria play a crucial role in cellular processes, including energy production, metabolism, and immune response. Their bacterial origin allows them to release potent immune triggers, which are normally hidden within mitochondrial membranes. Alteration of mitochondrial permeability through pores is not only a way to communicate stress to the cell, but also a key event in cellular responses. Understanding the structure and mechanisms of mitochondrial pores can provide insights into regulating cell death and inflammatory pathways, offering new therapeutic opportunities.
Article
Cell Biology
Rabia Ramzan, Amalia M. Dolga, Susanne Michels, Petra Weber, Carsten Culmsee, Ardawan J. Rastan, Sebastian Vogt
Summary: This study investigates the effects of ATP inhibition on cytochrome c oxidase (CytOx) in isolated rat heart mitochondria. The findings suggest that inhibiting CytOx activity with ATP leads to static respiration and decreased ROS production, highlighting the importance of ATP/ADP ratio for mitochondrial function.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aikaterini Poulaki, Stavroula Giannouli
Summary: Mitochondrial double membrane lipids play a crucial role in maintaining mitochondrial health and apoptosis process. Understanding the physiological properties of mitochondrial membrane lipids is essential for cancer research and maintaining overall health.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yang Yu, Harrison He, Chen Kang, Keli Hu
Summary: This study demonstrated that TASK-1 channels provide cytoprotection against hypoxia-reoxygenation injury by maintaining mitochondrial membrane potential, possibly through inhibiting the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amal A. Alotaibi, Asmatanzeem Bepari, Rasha Assad Assiri, Shaik Kalimulla Niazi, Sreenivasa Nayaka, Muthuraj Rudrappa, Shashiraj Kareyellapa Nagaraja, Meghashyama Prabhakara Bhat
Summary: The n-butanol extract of Saussurea lappa exhibited potent cytotoxicity against HepG2 cancer cells by inducing apoptosis, possibly through mechanisms involving cytochrome C release from mitochondria, increased expression of caspase-3 and bax, as well as down regulation of Bcl-2.
CURRENT ISSUES IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Barbara Schroeder, Travis Vander Steen, Ingrid Espinoza, Chandra M. Kurapaty Venkatapoorna, Zeng Hu, Fernando Martin Silva, Kevin Regan, Elisabet Cuyas, X. Wei Meng, Sara Verdura, Aina Arbusa, Paula A. Schneider, Karen S. Flatten, George Kemble, Joan Montero, Scott H. Kaufmann, Javier A. Menendez, Ruth Lupu
Summary: Inhibiting FASN can enhance mitochondrial apoptotic priming in cancer cells, controlling cell survival through BH3-only proteins and sensitizing cells to BCL-2-specific BH3 mimetics. Combining FASN inhibitors with BCL-2-specific BH3 mimetics could potentially generate more potent antitumor responses.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Malaysha Rice, Bokey Wong, Mare Oja, Kelley Samuels, Alicia K. Williams, Jenny Fong, Anne-Marie Sapse, Uko Maran, Ekaterina A. Korobkova
Summary: The study investigated the impact of 17 dietary flavonoids on the peroxidase activity of cyt c bound to liposomes, revealing that flavones, flavonols, and flavanols were the strongest inhibitors while isoflavones were the weakest. The research also highlighted the correlation between flavonoids' peroxidase inhibition activity and their ability to suppress Trp-59 fluorescence in cyt c as well as the number of OH groups.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)