When cytochrome c is released from mitochondria, it interacts with Apaf-1 to activate death-promoting caspases. Now, a gain-of-function mutation affecting cytochrome c with enhanced caspase-stimulatory activity is shown to have no other consequences for human health than a subclinical thrombocytopenia, showing that, in most settings, enhanced cytochrome c activity per se is not sufficient to disturb normal tissue homeostasis.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Garrido, C. & Kroemer, G. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 16, 639–646 (2004).
Zermati, Y. et al. Mol. Cell 28, 624–637 (2007).
Jiang, X. & Wang, X. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 73, 87–106 (2004).
Green, D.R. & Kroemer, G. Science 305, 626–629 (2004).
Acehan, D. et al. Mol. Cell 9, 423–432 (2002).
Shi, Y. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 18, 677–684 (2006).
Morison, I.M. et al. Nat. Genet. 40, 387–389 (2008).
Yu, T., Wang, X., Purring-Koch, C., Wei, Y. & McLendon, G.L. J. Biol. Chem. 276, 13034–13038 (2001).
Taylor, R.C., Cullen, S.P. & Martin, S.J. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 9, 231–241 (2008).
Golstein, P. & Kroemer, G. Cell Death Differ. 12 (Suppl. 2), 1490–1496 (2005).
Kroemer, G., Galluzzi, L. & Brenner, C. Physiol. Rev. 87, 99–163 (2007).
De Botton, S. et al. Blood 100, 1310–1317 (2002).
Braun, T. et al. Apoptosis 12, 1101–1108 (2007).
Li, K. et al. Cell 101, 389–399 (2000).
Hao, Z. et al. Cell 121, 579–591 (2005).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Solary, E., Giordanetto, F. & Kroemer, G. Re-examining the role of cytochrome c in cell death. Nat Genet 40, 379–380 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ng0408-379
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ng0408-379
This article is cited by
-
Cytochrome c: the Achilles’ heel in apoptosis
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences (2012)
-
Human adenylate kinase 2 deficiency causes a profound hematopoietic defect associated with sensorineural deafness
Nature Genetics (2009)
