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Updated: Dec 29, 2025

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Apoptosis inducing factor: Cellular protective function in Dictyostelium discoideum.

Ashlesha Kadam1, Darshan Mehta1, Tina Jubin1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara 390002, Gujarat, India.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta. Bioenergetics
|January 29, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Apoptosis Inducing Factor (AIF) regulates mitochondrial homeostasis and cell survival. This study in Dictyostelium discoideum reveals AIF

Keywords:
Apoptosis inducing factorDictyostelium discoideumFusion-fission mechanismMitochondrial respirationmtDNA content

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Mitochondrial Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Apoptosis Inducing Factor (AIF) is a mitochondrial protein involved in cell death and survival.
  • AIF's role in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis is not fully understood.
  • Mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to various diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the protective functions of AIF in Dictyostelium discoideum.
  • To explore AIF's role in regulating mitochondrial bioenergetics, morphology, and fusion-fission mechanisms.
  • To elucidate AIF's mechanism in controlling mitochondrial homeostasis.

Main Methods:

  • Downregulation and overexpression of AIF in Dictyostelium discoideum.
  • Analysis of oxidative phosphorylation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels.
  • Assessment of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and gene expression related to mitochondrial dynamics.
  • Evaluation of electron transport chain (ETC) complex activity.

Main Results:

  • AIF downregulation led to compromised oxidative phosphorylation, elevated ROS, and altered mtDNA content and mitochondrial morphology.
  • Antioxidant treatment ameliorated ETC complex activity in AIF-downregulated cells, highlighting AIF's ROS regulatory role.
  • AIF overexpression also resulted in increased ROS and altered mitochondrial fusion-fission dynamics.
  • Loss of AIF function impacted mitochondrial structure and function.

Conclusions:

  • AIF plays a crucial role in cell survival by maintaining mitochondrial bioenergetics and morphology.
  • AIF acts as an ROS regulator and influences mitochondrial fusion-fission mechanisms.
  • Dictyostelium discoideum serves as a valuable model for studying AIF's functions relevant to mitochondrial diseases.