Molecular characterization of mitochondrial apoptosis-inducing factor

Mitochondria are important in the control of cell death, or apoptosis.An apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), able to induce apoptosis of isolated nuclei, has been identified and cloned. The AIF flavoprotein can translocated to the nucleus when apoptosis is induced. Recombinant AIF leads to chromatin condensation and large scale DNA fragmentation. Purified mitochondria are induced to release cytochrome c and caspase-9. The wide-ranging caspase inhibitor Z-VAD.fmk. does not prevent any of those effects.