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Molecular and Cellular Biology, February 2000, p. 929-935, Vol. 20, No. 3
Serono Pharmaceutical Research Institute,
Ares Serono International S.A., CH-1228 Plan-les Ouates, Geneva,
Switzerland
Received 21 June 1999/Returned for modification 9 August
1999/Accepted 25 October 1999
In many types of apoptosis, the proapoptotic protein Bax undergoes
a change in conformation at the level of the mitochondria. This event
always precedes the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c,
which, in the cytosol, activates caspases through binding to Apaf-1.
The mechanisms by which Bax triggers cytochrome c release are unknown. Here we show that following binding to the BH3-domain-only proapoptotic protein Bid, Bax oligomerizes and then integrates in the
outer mitochondrial membrane, where it triggers cytochrome c release. Bax mitochondrial membrane insertion triggered
by Bid may represent a key step in pathways leading to apoptosis.
0270-7306/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Bid Induces the Oligomerization and Insertion of
Bax into the Outer Mitochondrial Membrane

*
Corresponding author. Mailing address: Serono
Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Ares Serono International S.A., 14 Chemin des Aulx, CH-1228 Plan-les Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland. Phone: 41-22-706-9822. Fax: 41-22-794-69-65. E-mail:
Jean-Claude.Martinou{at}Serono.com.
Present address: J. W. G.-University
Frankfurt am Main, ZIM
Med Klinik III
Molekulare Hämatologie,
D-60596 Frankfurt Germany.
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