Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death
09:18

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death

Published on: December 27, 2016

Apoptosis-inducing factor: vital and lethal

Nazanine Modjtahedi1, Fabrizio Giordanetto, Frank Madeo

  • 1Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, FRE2939, Institut Gustave Roussy, PR1, 39 Rue Camille Desmoulins, F-94805 Villejuif, France.

Trends in Cell Biology
|April 20, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) is vital for cell respiration and antioxidant defense. Its nuclear translocation can trigger cell death, particularly when caspases are inactive, but its precise role remains under investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) is a NADH oxidase crucial for cellular respiration and antioxidant defense.
  • AIF deficiency is linked to neurodegeneration, muscle atrophy, and dilated cardiomyopathy.
  • AIF translocates to the nucleus during apoptosis, inducing chromatin condensation and DNA degradation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the multifaceted role of AIF in cellular life and death pathways.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which AIF contributes to cell death.
  • To understand the conditions influencing AIF's pro-apoptotic function.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on AIF function and localization.
  • Analysis of AIF's role in various cell types and under different apoptotic stimuli.
  • Investigation of AIF's interaction with apoptotic signaling pathways, including caspase-dependent and independent routes.

Main Results:

  • AIF's contribution to cell death is cell-type and insult-dependent.
  • AIF-mediated cell death is prominent in the absence or inhibition of caspases.
  • Nuclear translocation of AIF is a key event in its cell death-inducing capacity, which can be modulated by upstream apoptotic signals.

Conclusions:

  • AIF plays a critical role in both cellular homeostasis and programmed cell death.
  • Further research is needed to fully delineate the mechanisms and extent of AIF's involvement in cell death.
  • Understanding AIF's function is essential for developing therapeutic strategies for diseases associated with its dysfunction.

More Related Videos

LPS and ATP-induced Death of PMA-differentiated THP-1 Macrophages and its Validation06:12

LPS and ATP-induced Death of PMA-differentiated THP-1 Macrophages and its Validation

Published on: May 3, 2024

In Vivo Biosensor Tracks Non-apoptotic Caspase Activity in Drosophila13:21

In Vivo Biosensor Tracks Non-apoptotic Caspase Activity in Drosophila

Published on: November 27, 2016

Related Concept Videos

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
Apoptosis01:30

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size reduction of the tissue.
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...
Autophagic Cell Death01:18

Autophagic Cell Death

Christian de Duve discovered “autophagy,” a process in which cellular components are engulfed by membrane-bound organelles called autophagosomes. The autophagosomes then fuse with lysosomes to digest the enclosed contents. Autophagy is generally activated in cells to prevent cell death. However, cell death is triggered when the damage is beyond repair.
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...
Caspases01:24

Caspases

Caspase, a family of cysteine proteases, serve as effectors in apoptosis. The ced3 gene in C.elegans was first identified to be involved in apoptosis. This gene encodes the ced-3 caspase that is similar to the interleukin-1-beta converting enzyme or ICE in mammals. In addition to apoptosis, caspases also function in the inflammatory response. Inflammatory caspases are essential in activating pro-inflammatory cytokines that recruit immune cells and block the replication of pathogens inside cells.
Overview of Cell Death01:30

Overview of Cell Death

Cell death is an essential process where the body gets rid of old or damaged cells. Cell proliferation and death need to be balanced, as an imbalance between the two may lead to cancer or autoimmune diseases.
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the 20th century...