Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Activation of Apoptosis by Cytoplasmic Microinjection of Cytochrome c
Published on: June 29, 2011
Caspase-9-dependent nuclear translocation of cytochrome c in hypoxic injury
Jee-Youn Kim1, Yong-Jun Kim, Kum-Ok Seok
1Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Objective:
Hypoxia signals the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria as well as sequential activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 in the pathway to apoptosis. In this report, we describe novel mechanisms governing the nuclear translocation of cytochrome c during hypoxia-induced apoptosis in neuroepithelioma, SK-N-MC cells.
Methods:
This work focuses on an investigation of the mechanism of cytochrome c translocation by means of immunocytochemistry, cell fractionation, Western blot and caspase assay.
Results:
Using immunocytochemistry and subcellular fractionation, we found that caspase-9 activation precedes cytochrome c release and translocation. Inhibition of caspase-9 activity blocked these responses to hypoxia. Previous studies suggest a key role for c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in apoptosis regulation and accordingly we found that JNK activation was essential for caspase-9 activation and nuclear translocation of cytochrome c.
Conclusions:
In this report, we describe novel mechanisms of caspase-9-dependent nuclear translocation of cytochrome c in hypoxic injury.
Related Concept Videos
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
Caspases
Necrosis
Morphological Manifestations of Necrosis
Necrotic cells show different types of morphological appearance depending on the type of tissue and infection. In coagulative necrosis, cells become anucleated and die, but their...
Cellular Injury IV: Necrosis
Apoptosis

