Abstract
In order to determine whether disruption of mitochondrial function could trigger apoptosis in murine haematopoietic cells, we used the potassium ionophore valinomycin. Valinomycin induces apoptosis in the murine pre-B cell line BAF3, which cannot be inhibited by interleukin-3 addition or Bcl-2 over-expression. Valinomycin triggers rapid loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. This precedes cytoplasmic acidification, which leads to cysteine-active-site protease activation, DNA fragmentation and cell death. Bongkrekic acid, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial permeability transition, prevents acidification and subsequent induction of apoptosis by valinomycin.
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Furlong, I., Mediavilla, C., Ascaso, R. et al. Induction of apoptosis by valinomycin: mitochondrial permeability transition causes intracellular acidification. Cell Death Differ 5, 214–221 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.cdd.4400335
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.cdd.4400335
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