HBXIP基因对乙肝病毒X蛋白诱导细胞凋亡的影响

探讨乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白结合蛋白(hepatitisBXinteractingprotein ,HBXIP)基因在乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白(HBX)诱导肝癌细胞凋亡时对细胞周期的影响.构建HBXIP基因真核表达载体pcDNA3 hbxip ,进行瞬时基因转染,将克隆有HBx基因的pCMV X (分别为1μg、2 μg和3μg)和pcDNA3 hbxip质粒分别和共转染至人H74 0 2肝癌细胞中(总体积分别为5 0 μl) .发现瞬时转染3μgpCMV X质粒后,肝癌细胞凋亡发生率为34 4 % ,肝癌细胞的细胞周期相关蛋白p2 7表达水平发生明显上调;与对照组相比,瞬时转染1μg、2 μg和3μg时,细胞周期蛋白D和细胞周期蛋白E的表达水平均发生明显上调,但随着HBX水平的增加细胞周期蛋白D和细胞周期蛋白E的表达水平发生明显下降;在稳定转染pCMV X质粒的H74 0 2 X肝癌细胞中无明显的细胞凋亡发生,研究发现p2 7的表达水平发生了明显下调,而细胞周期蛋白D和细胞周期蛋白E的表达水平发生了明显上调;当pcDNA3 hbxip质粒与pCMV X质粒进行共瞬时转染时,细胞凋亡发生率由pcDNA3质粒与pCMV X质粒共转染时的2 9 2 %下降为13 3% ,p2 7的表达水平发生了下调,但细胞周期蛋白D和细胞周期蛋白E的表达水平无明显变化.研究结果表明,瞬时转染一定剂量的x基因可导致肝癌细胞发生凋亡,细胞周期相关蛋白p2 7、细胞周期蛋白D和     

人源性长寿保障基因2通过与V-ATPase作用抑制肝癌细胞的生长

人源性长寿保障基因2(Homo sapiens longevity assurance homologue2,LASS2)是本实验室克隆到的一个与酵母长寿保障基因LAG1高度同源的人类新基因。前期研究显示,LASS2可与V-ATPase质子泵的c亚基ATP6L结合,过表达LASS2可以抑制肝癌细胞SMMC-7721的生长。本研究旨在探讨LASS2对V-ATPase质子泵功能的调节是否参与LASS2对肝癌细胞生长的抑制作用。使用本室构建、保存的pCMV-HA2-LASS2质粒瞬时转染肝癌细胞(HCCLM3),而未转染质粒的HCCLM3细胞作为空白对照,运用CCK-8试剂盒检测细胞生长情况;采用BCECF-AM和BCECF氢离子敏感探针分别测定细胞内、外H+浓度;应用流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡;Western blot检测线粒体和胞质内细胞色素c(cytochrome c,Cytc)、胞质中的无活性pro-caspase-3的表达情况。结果显示,外源性LASS2的过表达对HCCLM3细胞生长有抑制作用;过表达LASS2使HCCLM3细胞内H+浓度上升,细胞凋亡率提高,线粒体Cyt c释放增加,胞质中pro-caspase-3含量下降。以上结果提示提示LASS2可能通过调控V-ATPase质子泵的功能,提高细胞内H+浓度,从而激活细胞线粒体凋亡途径、抑制肝癌细胞的生长。     

二烯丙基三硫通过线粒体依赖性途径诱导人肝癌HepG2细胞凋亡

二烯丙基三硫(diallyl trisulfide,DATS)对多种肿瘤有抗癌作用,但机制尚不完全清楚．为探讨DATS对人肝癌细胞系HepG2细胞凋亡的影响,用丫啶橙/溴化乙锭(AO/EB)法观察细胞凋亡情况,在显微镜下计数凋亡细胞数．JC-1荧光染色观察线粒体膜电势变化．Western blot法检测细胞色素c蛋白分布,ELISA法检测caspase-3活性． 结果显示,DATS诱导HepG2细胞凋亡,用 50 μmol/L 与100 μmol/L DATS处理48 h,细胞凋亡率分别达到60.33%和93.67%,并引起HepG2细胞线粒体膜电势降低．Western blot显示,DATS能诱导胞浆细胞色素c增加,与此同时,线粒体细胞色素c减少,诱导HepG2细胞caspase-3活化．提示：DATS可通过降低线粒体膜电势,促进细胞色素c由线粒体膜释放到胞浆中,激活caspase-3途径诱导人肝癌细胞系HepG2细胞凋亡．     

细胞色素C在apoptin诱导宫颈癌Hela细胞凋亡中的作用

目的研究肿瘤特异性凋亡基因（apoptin）在诱导Hela细胞凋亡中的信号转导机制。方法用含有apoptin基因的真核表达载体瞬间转染体外培养的Hela细胞;采用MTT法检测Hela细胞的凋亡;以比色法检测caspase-8和caspase-3的相对活性;Western blotting检测凋亡细胞中细胞色素C的表达量。结果 MTT法证明ap-optin基因瞬间转染的Hela细胞凋亡率明显高于其他各组（P〈0.01）;caspase-3的活性升高,但caspase-8活性没有明显变化;细胞色素C释放量明显增多。结论 Apoptin基因可能通过促进线粒体释放细胞色素C激活caspase-3,进而诱导Hela细胞凋亡。     

MFN1介导的线粒体融合在心肌细胞凋亡中的作用研究

目的:探讨线粒体融合关键蛋白MFN1介导的线粒体融合在调控心肌细胞凋亡中的作用。方法:通过si RNA降低体外培养H9C2心肌细胞中MFN1的表达后,采用Western blot检测线粒体细胞色素c(Cyto c)释放及其下游凋亡效应分子Caspase9与Caspase3活性,流式细胞术检测细胞内活性氧(ROS)的产生情况,流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡的情况。结果:干扰MFN1可显著促进H9C2心肌细胞内细胞色素c由线粒体释放至胞浆,促进Caspase9与Caspase3的激活,增加细胞内活性氧ROS产生并提高细胞凋亡率(均P0.05)。结论:MFN1介导的线粒体融合可保护心肌细胞凋亡,其机制可能与抑制ROS产生与细胞色素C释放有关。     

双氢青蒿素对人白血病细胞K562增殖及凋亡的影响

目的:研究双氢青蒿素对人白血病细胞增殖及凋亡的作用,探讨其对白血病的作用机制,为进一步研究提供依据。方法:体外培养K562细胞,用细胞计数法绘制生长曲线;流式细胞仪及荧光显微镜检测药物作用前后细胞凋亡作用;Western-blot测定药物作用前后线粒体、细胞浆细胞色素c的表达。结果:双氢青蒿素的浓度为1×10~(-4),1×10~(-5),1×10~(-6)l/L时,细胞生长受到显著抑制,并呈剂量依赖性;流式细胞仪检测出凋亡峰;Hoechst33342/PI双荧光染色可观察到明显的核浓缩、凝集等细胞凋亡表现;Western-blot检测1×10~(-5)mol/L药物处理细胞后线粒体细胞色素c表达水平下调1,细胞浆出现明显细胞色素c蛋白奈带。结论:双氢青蒿素能显著抑制人白血病细胞K562的生长,并诱导其凋亡,可能与线粒体途径有关。     

乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白调节TRAIL诱导的肝细胞凋亡

观察乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白(HBx)对肿瘤坏死因子相关的凋亡诱导配体(TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, TRAIL)诱导肝细胞凋亡的影响并初步探讨其分子机制. 构建包含HBx基因的真核表达载体pcDNA-HBx, 转染BEL7402肝癌细胞, 建立可稳定表达HBx的肝癌细胞系BEL7402-HBx, 同时设立空载体pcDNA3转染对照组细胞BEL7402-cDNA3. 台盼蓝染色计数, Caspase3活性检测和TUNEL法检测TRAIL诱导BEL7402, BEL7402-cDNA3, BEL7402-HBx细胞凋亡的情况, 并通过流式细胞术分析3组细胞表面TRAIL受体的表达水平. 此外, 利用硫代反义寡核苷酸封闭HBV全基因转染肝癌细胞系HepG2.2.15中HBx蛋白的表达, 观察阻断前后对TRAIL诱导凋亡敏感性的改变, 进一步反向验证HBx对TRAIL诱导凋亡的调节作用. 台盼蓝染色计数提示TRAIL 对BEL7402, BEL7402-cDNA3, BEL7402-HBx均有剂量依赖性的细胞毒作用, 但在相同浓度TRAIL作用下, BEL7402-HBx细胞较BEL7402, BEL7402-cDNA3细胞有更高的敏感性. Caspase3活性检测结果分析发现, TRAIL作用后BEL7402-HBx细胞在较短时间内有更高的Caspase3活化水平. TUNEL结果显示, 10 mg/LTRAIL作用下, BEL7402-HBx细胞凋亡率可达(41.4±7.2)%, 显著高于对照组细胞. 反义封闭HepG2.2.15细胞中HBx基因的表达可部分阻断TRAIL诱导的凋亡. 两组实验结果均显示HBx的表达变化并不影响细胞表面TRAIL受体的表达模式. HBx蛋白参与调节TRAIL诱导的细胞凋亡, 可能在HBV相关疾病的发生中起一定作用, 这一作用与TRAIL受体表达水平无关. 从两个不同的侧面证实了HBx对TRAIL诱导细胞凋亡的调节作用, 为进一步论证凋亡失衡在HBV感染相关肝炎及肝癌发生中的作用提供了新的论据.     

青蒿素诱导人白血病细胞K562凋亡的线粒体机制

目的:探讨青蒿素诱导人白血病细胞K562凋亡的线粒体机制.方法:用青蒿素处理K562细胞.通过MTT比色法检别细胞增殖抑制的效果;荧光显微镜观察细胞的凋亡;流式细胞术(flow cytometry,FCM)进行细胞周期分析;Western-blotting测定药物作用前后线粒体、细胞浆细胞色素C的表达.结果:青蒿素抑制K562细胞的增殖,IC5D为1.5× 10-5mol·L-1;Hoechst33342/PI双荧光染色可观察到明显的核浓缩、凝集等细胞凋亡表现;流式细胞仪检测G2期细胞比例增高,S期减少;Western-blotting检测药物处理细胞后线粒体细胞色素C表达水平下调,细胞浆出现明显细胞色素C蛋白条带.结论:青蒿素可能通过线粒体细胞色素C途径诱导K562细胞凋亡.     

TFAR19促进小鼠肝线粒体膜通透性转运孔的开放

TFAR19基因 (TF 1cellapoptosisrelatedgene 19)是北京大学人类疾病基因中心从人白血病细胞株TF 1细胞中克隆到的凋亡相关新基因之一 (GenBank登记号AF0 1495 5 )。初步研究发现 ,该基因在细胞凋亡时高表达 ,并且表达产物具有抑制肿瘤细胞生长和促进凋亡作用。但是其确切的作用机制不明。线粒体膜完整性破坏所导致促凋亡因子 (如细胞色素c等因子 )的释放是细胞凋亡关键性的控制因素。线粒体膜通透性转运孔 (PTP) ,对线粒体膜完整性具有重要的调控作用。研究了重组人TFAR19蛋白在体外条件下 ,对线粒体PTP、跨膜电位 ,以及细胞色素c释放的影响。结果表明 ,TFAR19蛋白使分离的小鼠肝线粒体PTP开放、线粒体跨膜电位下降 ,以及细胞色素c释放。TFAR19对线粒体的上述作用是通过促进PTP开放起作用的。实验结果提示 ,TFAR19对线粒体凋亡信号有正反馈放大作用 ,并进一步揭示了TFAR19促进细胞凋亡的机制     

pemt2-cDNA的转染抑制大鼠CBRH-7919肝癌细胞c-Met及Bcl-2的表达并诱发凋亡

为探讨磷脂酰乙醇胺 N 甲基转移酶 2 (phosphatidylethanolamine N methyltransferase 2 ,PEMT2 )的转染抑制大鼠肝癌CBRH 7919细胞增殖的分子机理 ,构建了带有完整的pemt2 cDNA基因质粒载体 ,经转染和鉴定 ,确知其在大鼠肝癌细胞系CBRH 7919细胞中稳定高表达 .用细胞培养、免疫细胞化学、Western印迹、流式细胞仪和琼脂糖凝胶电泳等技术研究c Met(HGF的受体 )及抗凋亡蛋白Bcl 2在此过程中的表达和是否诱发凋亡 .免疫组织化学及Western印迹分析显示在转染高表达细胞中 ,c Met及Bcl 2的表达下调 .流式细胞仪分析表明 ,在转染pemt2 cDNA的高表达细胞中 ,G1期细胞增加 ,S期细胞减少 ,并在G0 期出现一个凋亡峰 .琼脂糖凝胶电泳谱显示梯状条带 .结果表明 :pemt2的转染可使大鼠肝癌细胞的c Met及Bcl 2的表达下调 ,并发生凋亡 .     

Pro-caspase-8 is predominantly localized in mitochondria and released into cytoplasm upon apoptotic stimulation

The recruitment and cleavage of pro-caspase-8 to produce the active form of caspase-8 is a critical biochemical event in death receptor-mediated apoptosis. However, the source of pro-caspase-8 available for activation by apoptotic triggers is unknown. In human fibroblasts and mouse clonal striatal cells, confocal microscopy revealed that pro-caspase-8 immunofluorescence was colocalized with cytochrome c in mitochondria and was also distributed diffusely in some nuclei. Biochemical analysis of subcellular fractions indicated that pro-caspase-8 was enriched in mitochondria and in nuclei. Pro-caspase-8 was found in the intermembrane space, inner membrane, and matrix of mitochondria after limited digestion of mitochondrial fractions, and this distribution was confirmed by immunogold electron microscopy. Pro-caspase-8 and cytochrome c were released from isolated mitochondria that were treated with an inhibitor of the ADP/ATP carrier atractyloside, which opens the mitochondria permeability transition pore. Release was blocked by the mitochondria permeability transition pore inhibitor cyclosporin A (CsA). After clonal striatal cells were exposed for 6 h to an apoptotic inducer tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), mitochondria immunoreactive for cytochrome c and pro-caspase-8 became clustered at perinuclear sites. Pro-caspase-8 and cytochrome c levels decreased in mitochondrial fractions and increased, along with pro-caspase-8 cleavage products, in the cytoplasm of the TNF-alpha-treated striatal cells. CsA blocked the TNF-alpha-induced release of pro-caspase 8 but not cytochrome c. Internucleosomal DNA fragmentation started at 6 h and peaked 12 h after TNF-alpha treatment. These results suggest that pro-caspase-8 is predominantly localized in mitochondria and is released upon apoptotic stimulation through a CsA-sensitive mechanism.     

Method for monitoring of mitochondrial cytochrome c release during cell death: Immunodetection of cytochrome c by flow cytometry after selective permeabilization of the plasma membrane.

BACKGROUND: Cytochrome c release from mitochondria to cytosol is a hallmark of apoptosis and is used to characterize the mitochondria-dependent pathway of this type of cell death. Techniques currently used to measure cytochrome c release, Western blot and fluorescence microscopy of immunolabeled cells, are time-consuming and inaccurate, and the latter is still limited by sample size. METHODS: We developed a rapid and reliable technique to detect cytochrome c release during drug-induced apoptosis, using flow cytometry. Plasma membrane of apoptotic HL-60 cells and thymocytes, treated with staurosporine and dexamethasone, respectively, were selectively permeabilized by digitonin at a low concentration. The released cytochrome c was quickly washed out from cells and that which remained in the mitochondria was immunolabeled after fixing the cells. RESULTS: The fraction of cells that retained their mitochondrial cytochrome c, or the highly fluorescent cells, gradually decreased so that after 4-8 h of drug treatment almost all the cells lost their cytochrome c and emerged as a population of low fluorescent cells. This was confirmed by parallel fluorescence microscopy of cells immunolabeled for cytochrome c. CONCLUSIONS: This technique allows the analysis of cytochrome c release from mitochondria of a large number of apoptotic cells in a short period of time and is proposed as an alternative to the methods currently used for this same purpose.     

The novel presenilin-1-associated protein is a proapoptotic mitochondrial protein

Recent studies have suggested a possible role for presenilin proteins in apoptotic cell death observed in Alzheimer's disease. The mechanism by which presenilin proteins regulate apoptotic cell death is not well understood. Using the yeast two-hybrid system, we previously isolated a novel protein, presenilin-associated protein (PSAP) that specifically interacts with the C terminus of presenilin 1 (PS1), but not presenilin 2 (PS2). Here we report that PSAP is a mitochondrial resident protein sharing homology with mitochondrial carrier protein. PSAP was detected in a mitochondria-enriched fraction, and PSAP immunofluorescence was present in a punctate pattern that colocalized with a mitochondrial marker. More interestingly, overexpression of PSAP caused apoptotic death. PSAP-induced apoptosis was documented using multiple independent approaches, including membrane blebbing, chromosome condensation and fragmentation, DNA laddering, cleavage of the death substrate poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, and flow cytometry. PSAP-induced cell death was accompanied by cytochrome c release from mitochondria and caspase-3 activation. Moreover, the general caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone, which blocked cell death, did not block the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria caused by overexpression of PSAP, indicating that PSAP-induced cytochrome c release was independent of caspase activity. The mitochondrial localization and proapoptotic activity of PSAP suggest that it is an important regulator of apoptosis.     

Identification of a novel protein MICS1 that is involved in maintenance of mitochondrial morphology and apoptotic release of cytochrome c

Mitochondrial morphology dynamically changes in a balance of membrane fusion and fission in response to the environment, cell cycle, and apoptotic stimuli. Here, we report that a novel mitochondrial protein, MICS1, is involved in mitochondrial morphology in specific cristae structures and the apoptotic release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria. MICS1 is an inner membrane protein with a cleavable presequence and multiple transmembrane segments and belongs to the Bi-1 super family. MICS1 down-regulation causes mitochondrial fragmentation and cristae disorganization and stimulates the release of proapoptotic proteins. Expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-XL does not prevent morphological changes of mitochondria caused by MICS1 down-regulation, indicating that MICS1 plays a role in maintaining mitochondrial morphology separately from the function in apoptotic pathways. MICS1 overproduction induces mitochondrial aggregation and partially inhibits cytochrome c release during apoptosis, regardless of the occurrence of Bax targeting. MICS1 is cross-linked to cytochrome c without disrupting membrane integrity. Thus, MICS1 facilitates the tight association of cytochrome c with the inner membrane. Furthermore, under low-serum condition, the delay in apoptotic release of cytochrome c correlates with MICS1 up-regulation without significant changes in mitochondrial morphology, suggesting that MICS1 individually functions in mitochondrial morphology and cytochrome c release.     

IFN-gamma induces the apoptosis of WEHI 279 and normal pre-B cell lines by expressing direct inhibitor of apoptosis protein binding protein with low pI

Interferon-gamma plays a crucial role in induction of Th1 response but is predominantly a negative regulator of B cell differentiation and Th2 response, so it is a key molecule in determining cellular or humoral immunity. In this study, we demonstrate that IFN-gamma induces apoptosis in WEHI 279 mouse B cells and IL-7-dependent mouse pre-B cells by disrupting mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome c release via down-regulation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L). Furthermore, this apoptotic signal is promoted by the de novo synthesis of endogenous direct inhibitor of apoptosis protein binding protein with low pI (DIABLO) by IFN-gamma and its release from mitochondria into the cytosol. Inhibition of DIABLO expression by antisense oligonucleotide is sufficient to decrease caspase activities and DNA fragmentation, but not cytochrome c release from mitochondria, suggesting that DIABLO plays a critical role in promoting apoptotic signals downstream of mitochondrial events. Thus, these findings demonstrate a signaling pathway during B cell apoptosis induced by IFN-gamma and possible mechanisms by which B cell differentiation is negatively regulated by Th1-type cytokines.     

N-terminal cleavage of bax by calpain generates a potent proapoptotic 18-kDa fragment that promotes bcl-2-independent cytochrome C release and apoptotic cell death

Upon apoptosis induction, the proapoptotic protein Bax is translocated from the cytosol to mitochondria, where it promotes release of cytochrome c, a caspase-activating protein. However, the molecular mechanisms by which Bax triggers cytochrome c release are unknown. Here we report that before the initiation of apoptotic execution by etoposide or staurosporin, an active calpain activity cleaves Bax at its N-terminus, generating a potent proapoptotic 18-kDa fragment (Bax/p18). Both the calpain-mediated Bax cleavage activity and the Bax/p18 fragment were found in the mitochondrial membrane-enriched fraction. Cleavage of Bax was followed by release of mitochondrial cytochrome c, activation of caspase-3, cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, and fragmentation of DNA. Unlike the full-length Bax, Bax/p18 did not interact with the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein in the mitochondrial fraction of drug-treated cells. Pretreatment with a specific calpain inhibitor calpeptin inhibited etoposide-induced calpain activation, Bax cleavage, cytochrome c release, and caspase-3 activation. In contrast, transfection of a cloned Bax/p18 cDNA into multiple human cancer cell lines targeted Bax/p18 to mitochondria, which was accompanied by release of cytochrome c and induction of caspase-3-mediated apoptosis that was not blocked by overexpression of Bcl-2 protein. Therefore, Bax/p18 has a cytochrome c-releasing activity that promotes cell death independent of Bcl-2. Finally, Bcl-2 overexpression inhibited etoposide-induced calpain activation, Bax cleavage, cytochrome c release, and apoptosis. Our results suggest that the mitochondrial calpain plays an essential role in apoptotic commitment by cleaving Bax and generating the Bax/p18 fragment, which in turn mediates cytochrome c release and initiates the apoptotic execution.     

Laser micro-irradiation of mitochondria: is there an amplified mitochondrial death signal in neural cells?

Several mitochondrial proteins, such as cytochrome c, are directly involved in the pathway for caspase activation following induction of apoptosis. Release of mitochondrial cytochrome c early in apoptosis is rapid and almost complete. Microinjection of cytochrome c into resting cells induces apoptosis, but the amount needed approaches the total cellular content. These observations suggest that mitochondrial protein release is an all-or-nothing process inside the cell and not an amplifiable apoptotic signal. To test this hypothesis, laser micro-irradiation was used to rupture membranes of individual mitochondria within living rat neural cells. Laser micro-irradiation caused swelling, fragmentation, depolarization, and cytochrome c depletion in targeted mitochondria. These effects were explained by correlative electron microscopic analysis showing local rupture of outer and inner membranes at the site of irradiation. In all cases, there were no detectable changes in the structure, membrane potential, or cytochrome c content of neighboring, non-irradiated organelles. Furthermore, irradiation of up to 15% of the mitochondria in a cell did not induce apoptosis. The results from these laser micro-irradiation experiments prove that local release of mitochondrial proteins does not constitute an amplifiable apoptotic signal in resting neural cells.     

MEK1/2 inhibitors promote Ara-C-induced apoptosis but not loss of Deltapsi(m) in HL-60 cells

The effects of pharmacologic MEK1/2 inhibitors on ara-C-mediated mitochondrial injury, caspase activation, and apoptosis have been examined in HL-60 leukemic cells. Coadministration of subtoxic concentrations of the MEK1/2 inhibitors U0126 (20 microM), PD98059 (40 microM), or PD184352 (10 microM) with 10-100 microM ara-C (6 h) potentiated apoptosis (i.e., by approx twofold), and pro-caspase 3, pro-caspase 8, Bid, and PARP cleavage. Unexpectedly, MEK1/2 inhibitors failed to enhance ara-C-mediated loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)), but instead induced substantial increases in cytosolic release of cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO. U0126/ara-C-mediated apoptosis and pro-caspase 3 activation, but not cytochrome c or Smac/DIABLO release, were blocked by the pan-caspase inhibitor ZVAD-fmk. Together, these findings indicate that potentiation of ara-C-mediated lethality in HL-60 cells by MEK1/2 inhibitors involves enhanced cytosolic release of cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO but not discharge of DeltaPsi(m), implicating activation of an apoptotic pathway that differs, at least with respect to the nature of the accompanying mitochondrial injury, from that triggered by ara-C alone.     

Preservation of mitochondrial structure and function after Bid- or Bax-mediated cytochrome c release

Proapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 protein family, including Bid and Bax, can activate apoptosis by directly interacting with mitochondria to cause cytochrome c translocation from the intermembrane space into the cytoplasm, thereby triggering Apaf-1-mediated caspase activation. Under some circumstances, when caspase activation is blocked, cells can recover from cytochrome c translocation; this suggests that apoptotic mitochondria may not always suffer catastrophic damage arising from the process of cytochrome c release. We now show that recombinant Bid and Bax cause complete cytochrome c loss from isolated mitochondria in vitro, but preserve the ultrastructure and protein import function of mitochondria, which depend on inner membrane polarization. We also demonstrate that, if caspases are inhibited, mitochondrial protein import function is retained in UV-irradiated or staurosporine-treated cells, despite the complete translocation of cytochrome c. Thus, Bid and Bax act only on the outer membrane, and lesions in the inner membrane occurring during apoptosis are shown to be secondary caspase-dependent events.