Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 19, 2026
13:20
Detection of Mitochondria Membrane Potential to Study CLIC4 Knockdown-induced HN4 Cell Apoptosis In Vitro
Published on: July 17, 2018
10.9K
CHCHD2 connects mitochondrial metabolism to apoptosis
1Department of Radiation Oncology and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center; School of Medicine; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy; Cancer Institute; Xuzhou Medical College; Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Molecular & Cellular Oncology
|June 17, 2016
Summary
Mitochondrial protein CHCHD2 acts as an apoptosis inhibitor, protecting cells from death. It functions as a reactive oxygen species scavenger and BCL-XL activator, promoting cell survival.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Mitochondrial function
- Apoptosis regulation
Background:
- Mitochondria are central to cellular life and death processes.
- CHCHD2 is a mitochondrial protein involved in metabolism.
- Recent findings identify CHCHD2 as a key apoptosis inhibitor.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the prosurvival mechanism of CHCHD2.
- To understand CHCHD2's role in regulating apoptosis.
- To investigate CHCHD2's interaction with reactive oxygen species and BCL-XL.
Main Methods:
- Investigated CHCHD2's function in cellular models.
- Assessed CHCHD2's role as a reactive oxygen species scavenger.
- Examined CHCHD2's effect on BCL-XL activation.
Main Results:
- CHCHD2 exhibits significant prosurvival functions.
- CHCHD2 effectively scavenges reactive oxygen species.
- CHCHD2 activates the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-XL.
Conclusions:
- CHCHD2 plays a critical role in preventing apoptosis.
- CHCHD2's dual action as an ROS scavenger and BCL-XL activator highlights its importance in cell survival pathways.
- CHCHD2 represents a potential therapeutic target for conditions involving excessive cell death.
Related Concept Videos
01:31The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
9.1K
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...
9.1K
01:30Apoptosis
16.7K
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...
16.7K
01:17The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
9.2K
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...
9.2K
01:46Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II
19.4K
The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) is the main energy generation system in the eukaryotic cells. However, mitochondria also produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to the large electron flow during oxidative phosphorylation. While Complex I is one of the primary sources of superoxide radicals, ROS production by Complex II is uncommon and may only be observed in cancer cells with mutated complexes.
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
19.4K
01:24Caspases
14.5K
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...
14.5K
01:18Autophagic Cell Death
4.9K
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...
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and...
4.9K