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Updated: Jul 31, 2026

Monitoring Dynamic Changes In Mitochondrial Calcium Levels During Apoptosis Using A Genetically Encoded Calcium Sensor
Published on: April 1, 2011
Proapoptotic Bid binds to monolysocardiolipin, a new molecular connection between mitochondrial membranes and cell
M Degli Esposti1, I M Cristea, S J Gaskell
1School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK. mauro.esposti@man.ac.uk
Abstract:
Recent evidence indicates that the mitochondrial lipid cardiolipin may be instrumental in the proapoptotic action of Bcl-2 family proteins on mitochondrial membranes, leading to the release of apoptogenic factors. However, contrasting evidence indicates that progressive loss of cardiolipin occurs during apoptosis. Here we show that Bid, a crucial proapoptotic protein that integrates the action of other Bcl-2 family members, exhibits discrete specificity for metabolites of cardiolipin, especially monolysocardiolipin (MCL). MCL, normally present in the remodelling of mitochondrial lipids, progressively increases in mitochondria during Fas-mediated apoptosis as a by-product of cardiolipin degradation, and also enhances Bid binding to membranes. MCL may thus play a crucial role in connecting lipid metabolism, relocation of Bid to mitochondria and integrated action of Bcl-2 proteins on mitochondrial membranes. We propose that Bid interaction with MCL 'primes' the mitochondrial outer membrane via segregation of lipid domains, facilitating membrane discontinuity and leakage of apoptogenic factors.
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