Mb. Hampton et al., IMPORTANCE OF THE REDOX STATE OF CYTOCHROME-C DURING CASPASE ACTIVATION IN CYTOSOLIC EXTRACTS, Biochemical journal, 329, 1998, pp. 95-99
The export of cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytoplasm has been
detected during apoptosis. Addition of cytochrome c to cytosolic extr
acts can activate the caspases, suggesting that this export could be a
n important intracellular signal for initiating the apoptotic programm
e. We have investigated the mechanism of caspase activation by cytochr
ome c. Mitochondrial cytochrome c normally shuttles electrons between
complexes :(II and IV of the electron transport chain. Interaction wit
h these complexes is dependent on electrostatic interactions via a pol
ylysine binding pocket. Cytosolic caspase activation was only observed
with intact holocytochrome c, and increasing the ionic composition of
the extracts prevented activation, suggesting that stringent alloster
ic interactions between cytochrome c and other cytoplasmic factors are
necessary. Cytochrome c was fully reduced within 5 min of addition to
the cytosolic extracts. Potassium ferricyanide could maintain cytochr
ome c in an oxidized state, but care was taken to use ferricyanide at
concentrations where its polyanion effect did not cause interference.
The oxidized form of cytochrome c was able to activate the caspases. W
e conclude that reduced cytochrome c will function in the cytoplasm; h
owever, its reduction is not a critical step, and electron transfer fr
om cytochrome c to its cytoplasmic-binding partner(s) is not necessary
in the pathway leading to apoptosis.