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    Methods. 2008 Dec;46(4):319-23. Epub 2008 Oct 26.

    Assessing mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization during apoptosis.

    Source

    Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816, USA.

    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.

    PMID:
    18955145
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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