Cited by 87Cell death mechanisms and regulationElectron Spin Resonance StudiesMitochondrial Function and Pathology

Conformational Changes in BAK, a Pore-forming Proapoptotic Bcl-2 Family Member, upon Membrane Insertion and Direct Evidence for the Existence of BH3-BH3 Contact Interface in BAK Homo-oligomers

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Oh, Kyoung Joon, Singh, Pawan, Lee, Kyungro, Foss, Kelly, Lee, Shinyoub, Park, Minji, Lee, Steffi, Aluvila, Sreevidya +5 more·2010·Journal of Biological Chemistry

Abstract

During apoptosis, the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins BAK and BAX form large oligomeric pores in the mitochondrial outer membrane. Apoptotic factors, including cytochrome c, are released through these pores from the mitochondrial intermembrane space into the cytoplasm where they initiate the cascade of events leading to cell death. To better understand this pivotal step toward apoptosis, a method was developed to induce membrane permeabilization by BAK in the membrane without using the full-length protein. Using a soluble form of BAK with a hexahistidine tag at the C terminus and a liposomal system containing the Ni(2+)-nitrilotriacetic acid lipid analog that can bind hexahistidine-tagged proteins, BAK oligomers were formed in the presence of the activator protein p7/p15Bid. In this system, we determined the conformational changes in BAK upon membrane insertion by applying the site-directed spin labeling method of EPR to 13 different amino acid locations. Upon membrane insertion, the BH3 domains were reorganized, and the alpha5-alpha6 helical hairpin structure was partially exposed to the membrane environment. The monomer-monomer interface in the oligomeric structure was also mapped by measuring the distance-dependent spin-spin interactions for each residue location. Spin labels attached in the BH3 domain were juxtaposed within 5-10 A distance in the oligomeric form in the membrane. These results are consistent with the current hypothesis that BAK or BAX forms homodimers, and these homodimers assemble into a higher order oligomeric pore. Detailed analyses of the data provide new insights into the structure of the BAX or BAK homodimer.

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Crossref · 10.1074/jbc.m110.135293

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  • Activated BAX and BAK form homodimers (also heterodimers in specific settings), resulting in the release of BH3-only proteins and further dimer-by-dimer oligomerization.

    “The current view is that activated BAX and BAK form homodimers (also heterodimers in specific settings), resulting in the release of BH3-only proteins and further dimer-by-dimer oligomerization [76–83].”

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Authors
Oh, K. J., Singh, P., Lee, K., Foss, K., Lee, S., Park, M., Lee, S., Aluvila, S., Park, M., Singh, P., Kim, R.-S., Symersky, J., & Walters, D. E.
Affiliations
  • Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (US)
  • Albert Einstein College of Medicine (US)
Corresponding author
Oh, Kyoung Joon
Venue
Journal of Biological Chemistry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2010-09
Volume
285
Issue
37
Pages
28924-28937
ISSN
0021-9258 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2051939573
Cited by
87
References
78
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 3
FWCI
3.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Biological Chemistry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • American Heart Association
  • Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
  • Pohang University of Science and Technology
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Cell death mechanisms and regulation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biophysics › Electron Spin Resonance Studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
Keywords
Bak, Bcl-2 family proteins, mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization, BH3 domain, pore formation, conformational change, site-directed spin labeling, electron spin resonance, cytochrome c release, apoptosis
MeSH terms
Animals, Humans, Structure-Activity Relationship, Protein Structure, Secondary, Protein Structure, Tertiary, Protein Structure, Quaternary, bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein, BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein, bcl-2-Associated X Protein, Mitochondrial Membranes, Mice, Protein Multimerization

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