Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Analyzing Mitochondrial Function in a Drosophila melanogaster PINK1B9-Null Mutant Using High-resolution Respirometry
Published on: November 10, 2023
The mitochondrial TOM complex modulates bax-induced apoptosis in Drosophila
J Colin1, J Garibal, B Mignotte
1Laboratoire de Génétique et Biologie Cellulaire, Université de Versaillers Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, CNRS UMR 8159, 45 avenue des Etats-Unis, F-78035 Versailles cedex, France.
Abstract:
Bax is a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family proteins involved in the release of apoptogenic factors from mitochondria to the cytosol. Recently, it has been shown both in mammals and yeast that Bax insertion in the mitochondrial outer membrane involves at least two distinct mechanisms, one of which uses the TOM complex. Here, we show that in Drosophila, heterozygous loss of function mutations of Tom22 or Tom70, two receptors of the TOM complex, attenuates bax-induced phenotypes in vivo. These results argue that the TOM complex may be used as a mitochondrial Bax receptor in Drosophila.
Related Concept Videos
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
Translocation of Proteins into the Mitochondria
Sorting of outer membrane proteins:
Mitochondrial outer membrane proteins are of two types: the transmembrane, beta-barrel porins, and the membrane-anchored, alpha-helical proteins. Beta-barrel porin precursors are translocated by the TOM complex and inserted into the outer mitochondrial membrane by the SAM complex. In contrast,...
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy
Mitochondrial Protein Sorting
Most of these mitochondrial proteins are encoded by the nucleus and imported to the mitochondria as unfolded or loosely folded precursors. Mitochondrial precursors...
Mitochondrial Membranes
Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...

