The protein apoptotic protease activating factor 1 (Apaf1) is the central component of the apoptosome, a multiprotein complex that activates procaspase-9 after cytochrome c release from the mitochondria in the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. We have developed a vital method that allows fluorescence-activated cell sorting of cells at different stages of the apoptotic pathway and demonstrated that upon pharmacological inhibition of Apaf1, cells recover from doxorubicin- or hypoxia-induced early apoptosis to normal healthy cell. Inhibiting Apaf1 not only prevents procaspase-9 activation but delays massive mitochondrial damage allowing cell recovery.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission