戞俀夞 怴戝愭抂壔妛僙儈僫乕
俈寧俈擔(壩)16:30乣17:30応強
暔幙惗嶻搹侾俇侾島巘
戜榩 崙棫惔壺戝妛 棟妛晹壔妛壢墘戣
攷巑尋媶堳丂Chia-Jung Tsai攷巑
BAX-Induced Apoptosis Can Be Initiated through a Conformational Selection Mechanism奣梫
BAX protein plays a key role in the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. However, it remains unclear by what mechanism BAX is triggered to initiate apoptosis. Here, we reveal the mechanism using electron spin resonance (ESR) techniques. An inactive BAX monomer was found to exhibit conformational heterogeneity and exist at equilibrium in two conformations, one of which has never been reported. We show that upon apoptotic stimulus by BH3-only peptides, BAX can be induced to convert into either a ligand-bound monomer or an oligomer through a conformational selection mechanism. The kinetics of reaction is studied by means of time-resolved ESR, allowing a direct in situ observation for the transformation of BAX from the native to the bound states. In vitro mitochondrial assays provide further discrimination between the proposed BAX states, thereby revealing a population-shift allosteric mechanism in the process. BAX乫s apoptotic function is shown to critically depend on excursions between different structural conformations.