Oligomeric BAX induces mitochondrial permeability transition and complete cytochrome c release without oxidative stress

In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of cytochrome c release from isolated brain mitochondria induced by recombinant oligomeric BAX (BAXoligo). We found that BAXoligo caused a complete release of cytochrome c in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The release was similar to those induced by alamethicin, which causes maximal mitochondrial swelling and eliminates barrier properties of the OMM. BAXoligo also produced large amplitude mitochondrial swelling as judged by light scattering assay and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, BAXoligo resulted in a strong mitochondrial depolarization. ATP or a combination of cyclosporin A and ADP, inhibitors of the mPT, suppressed BAXoligo-induced mitochondrial swelling and depolarization as well as cytochrome c release but did not influence BAXoligo insertion into the OMM. Both BAXoligo- and alamethicin-induced cytochrome c releases were accompanied by inhibition of ROS generation, which was assessed by measuring mitochondrial H2O2 release with an Amplex Red assay. The mPT inhibitors antagonized suppression of ROS generation caused by BAXoligo but not by alamethicin. Thus, BAXoligo resulted in a complete cytochrome c release from isolated brain mitochondria in the mPT-dependent manner without involvement of oxidative stress by the mechanism requiring mitochondrial remodeling and permeabilization of the OMM.