Membrane Remodeling and Diffusion of Cytochrome C from a Geometrically Idealized Mitochondrial Crista

In healthy eukaryotic cells, mitochondria have an outer membrane that surrounds a complex inner membrane structure [7,8]. Cytochrome c is found in the space between the two membranes, the inter-membrane space, where it takes part in the electron transport process. Mitochondria interact with the cell in the process of apoptosis (programmed cell death). During apoptosis cytochrome c is released from the mitochondria into the cytoplasm. It is known that essentially all (more than 90%) of the cytochrome c inside of a mitochondrion is released to the cytosol in one to two minutes. The mechanism by which this release occurs is the subject of this paper. Structural transformations in the inner mitochondrial membrane have been observed during apoptosis [6]. We consider the hypothesis that such shape restructuring is required for the timely release of cytochrome c during apoptosis. The extent to which shape restructuring of the inner mitochondrial membrane could affect the timing of this relea...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2006
• Where: BIOCOMP
• Authors: John Manor, Peter Salamon, James Nulton, Joseph Mahaffy, Arlette Baljon, Terrence Frey
• Keywords: Apoptosis Cytochrome, BIOCOMP 2006, BIOCOMP 2007, Cytochrome C, Inner Mitochondrial Membrane