Apoptosis-inducing Factor and Apoptosis

摘要: Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) is a phylogenetically conserved mitochondrial intermembrane flavoprotein which has the ability to induce apoptosis via caspase-independent pathway. AIF plays an important role in inducing nuclear chromatin condensation as well large-scale DNA fragmentation (approximately 50 kb), and essential for programmed cell death during cavitation of embryoid bodies. Two homologous proteins, AIF-homologous mitochondrion-associated inducer (AMID) p53-responsive gene 3 (PRG3), also have apoptosis-inducing effects. Recent studies on mechanisms AIF-mediated apoptotic degradation Caenorhabditis elegans reveal that WAH-1(an homolog C. elegans) induced CED-3-dependent. interacts with cytochrome c caspases mammalian processes, indicating different pathways may be mutually cross-regulated activate program.