PROJECT SUMMARY
Mitochondrial cytochrome c release catalyzed by the B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family members Bax
and Bak is the committed step to apoptosis, yet the upstream mechanisms leading to the `cell suicide'
decision are not fully understood. The voltage-dependent anion channel isoforms (particularly VDAC 1
and 2), known for decades as non-selective mitochondrial outer membrane pores for exchange of
metabolites such as ATP and pyruvate between the mitochondria and cytoplasm, have recently been
found to interact with the pro-apoptotic pore formers Bax and Bak, thus implicating VDACs as apoptosis
regulators. The Bcl-2 homology 3 (BH3) a-helix domain is the means by which all Bcl-2 family members
interact, thus raising the question of how integral membrane ß-barrel VDACs could interact with Bax and
Bak. This proposal tests the hypothesis that all VDAC isoforms (VDAC 1-3) have a functional N-terminal
BH3 domain and are thus novel members of the Bcl-2 family capable of interacting with both pro- and
anti-apoptotic members. The hypothesis is based on strong sequence conservation of the VDAC N-
terminus with Bcl-2 family BH3 domains, as well as in silico docking analysis of the VDAC N-terminus to
the Bax `hydrophobic groove' receptor site for BH3 domains. The first specific aim will evaluate
recombinant Bax and Bcl-2 binding to synthetic N-terminal VDAC peptides, identify VDAC residues
important for peptide binding, and assess the ability of the peptides to activate or sequester Bax in a
liposome permeabilization assay. The second specific aim will determine if a Bax or Bcl-2 chimera
having its BH3 domain replaced with the VDAC BH3-like domain, can restore apoptosis sensitivity to
Bax/Bak double knock out mouse embryonic fibroblasts, or increase resistance to apoptosis in Bcl-2
knockout mouse embryonic fibroblasts, respectively. The third specific aim will determine if mammalian
or Drosophila VDACs can regulate mammalian Bax in an N-terminal domain-dependent manner in
Drosophila melanogaster that are either partially or completely deficient for endogenous VDAC.
Completion of these aims will advance the field of cell death regulation by identifying VDACs as new
members of the Bcl-2 family possessing functional BH3 domains capable of interacting with established
pro- and anti-apoptotic members.