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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2011 Apr 29.
Published in final edited form as: Expert Opin Emerg Drugs. 2010 Sep 3;16(1):59–70. doi: 10.1517/14728214.2010.515210

Figure 2. The inter membrane space of the mitochondrion in healthy cells is a rich storage of apoptotic regulators, including Cyt C (circles).

Figure 2

On stress signaling, mitochondrial membrane potential dramatically decreases with the formation of a PTPC (associated with VDAC channel), compromising the integrity of the MOM, and spillage of Cyt C into the cytosol. Small molecule inhibitors such as ApoG2, TW-37, AT-101 and ABT-263 bind to the hydrophobic groove of the pro-survival Bcl-2 family members thereby releasing the pro-apoptotic proteins such as Bax. This leads to the formation of mitochondrial membrane channel with concurrent release of Cyt C, resulting in apoptotic cell death.

Cyt C: Cytochrome c; MOM: Mitochondrial outer membrane; PTPC: Permeability transition pore complex.