Donahue, R., R. Libby, M. Maes, O. Marola, R. Nickells, and C. Schlamp. BAX Activation in Mouse Retinal Ganglion Cells Occurs in Two Temporally and Mechanistically Distinct Steps. Mol Neurodegener, 2023, p. PubMed Text.
Abstract
Background: Pro-apoptotic BAX is a central mediator of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death after optic nerve damage. BAX activation occurs in two stages including translocation of latent BAX to the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) and then permeabilization of the MOM to facilitate the release of apoptotic signaling molecules. As a critical component of RGC death, BAX is an attractive target for neuroprotective therapies and an understanding of the kinetics of BAX activation and the mechanisms controlling the two stages of this process in RGCs is potentially valuable in informing the development of a neuroprotective strategy.