What is the function of Bax?

Bax and Bak are two nuclear-encoded proteins present in higher eukaryotes that are able to pierce the mitochondrial outer membrane to mediate cell death by apoptosis. Thus, organelles recruited by nucleated cells to supply energy can be recruited by Bax and Bak to kill cells.

What do Bax and Bak do?

Bax and Bak are members of the Bcl-2 family and core regulators of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. Upon apoptotic stimuli, they are activated and oligomerize at the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) to mediate its permeabilization, which is considered a key step in apoptosis.

What is Bax activation?

Bax and Bak are activated by BH3-only proteins and inhibited by prosurvival Bcl-2 proteins via direct interactions. Bax and Bak undergo major conformation changes during transition from inactive monomers to activated oligomers.

What is Bax expression?

The expression of BAX is upregulated by the tumor suppressor protein p53, and BAX has been shown to be involved in p53-mediated apoptosis. The p53 protein is a transcription factor that, when activated as part of the cell’s response to stress, regulates many downstream target genes, including BAX.

Do BAX and Bak inhibit apoptosis?

The antiapoptotic proteins sequester first the direct activators BH3-only proteins and then the executors Bax and Bak in order to prevent apoptosis. Both the activator and the sensitizer BH3-only proteins inhibit the antiapoptotic proteins to promote cell death.

How do BAX or Bak help initiate the apoptosis process once bound to the mitochondria?

During apoptosis, large pores form in the outer membranes of mitochondria. These pores are generated by two proteins—Bax and Bak—and they enable the mitochondrion to release proteins that activate processes involved in apoptosis.

What is the BAX gene?

The BAX gene (Bcl-2 Associated X-protein) is a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 gene family; it encodes a 21-kDa protein named BAX-alpha, whose association with Bcl-2 researchers believe plays a critical role in regulating intrinsic apoptosis.[4]

Do Bax and Bak inhibit apoptosis?

How do Bax or Bak help initiate the apoptosis process once bound to the mitochondria?