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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...
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Rab Cascades

Rab GTPases act in a regulated cascade during membrane fusion, helping the lipid bilayers mix. The Rab family of proteins are active when bound to GTP, and inactive when bound to GDP. Hence, they act as guanine nucleotide-dependent molecular switches. Rab-GTP recognizes and binds to long or short-range tethering proteins to capture the target vesicle. These tethers coordinate with SNAREs on the vesicle and the target membrane to assemble the trans SNARE complex that locks the mixing bilayers.
Receptor-mediated Endocytosis01:20

Receptor-mediated Endocytosis

Receptor-mediated endocytosis is when bulk amounts of specific molecules are imported into a cell after binding to cell surface receptors. The molecules bound to these receptors are taken into the cell through inward folding of the cell surface membrane, which is eventually pinched off into a vesicle within the cell. Structural proteins, such as clathrin, coat the budding vesicle.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Examining BCL-2 Family Function with Large Unilamellar Vesicles
08:35

Examining BCL-2 Family Function with Large Unilamellar Vesicles

Published on: October 5, 2012

BAX and BAK caught in the act.

Yong Yao1, Francesca M Marassi

  • 1Burnham Institute for Medical Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.

Molecular Cell
|November 18, 2009
PubMed
Summary

This study clarifies how BH3-only proteins directly activate BAX and BAK, key players in programmed cell death. The findings resolve long-standing debates about the mechanism of apoptosis initiation.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The BAX and BAK proteins are central to initiating programmed cell death (apoptosis).
  • The precise mechanism by which BH3-only proteins activate BAX and BAK has been debated, with models proposing direct or indirect activation pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the direct activation mechanism of proapoptotic proteins BAX and BAK by their BH3-only partners.
  • To resolve the controversy surrounding direct versus indirect activation of BAX and BAK.

Main Methods:

  • The study likely involved biochemical assays and potentially structural biology techniques to observe protein interactions.
  • Analysis focused on the specific steps and molecular interactions during BAX and BAK activation.

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Applying an Inducible Expression System to Study Interference of Bacterial Virulence Factors with Intracellular Signaling

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Examining BCL-2 Family Function with Large Unilamellar Vesicles
08:35

Examining BCL-2 Family Function with Large Unilamellar Vesicles

Published on: October 5, 2012

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05:52

Reconstitution of Msp1 Extraction Activity with Fully Purified Components

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08:51

Applying an Inducible Expression System to Study Interference of Bacterial Virulence Factors with Intracellular Signaling

Published on: June 25, 2015

Main Results:

  • Kim et al. (2009) provide evidence for the direct activation of BAX and BAK by BH3-only proteins.
  • The study details the sequential steps involved in this direct activation process.

Conclusions:

  • The findings confirm that BH3-only proteins directly engage and activate BAX and BAK.
  • This resolves the debate, establishing a clear model for apoptosis initiation at the mitochondrial level.