Yeast K.lactis as a tool for study the mechanism of Bax induced cytotoxicity: A role for actin-binding proteins and lactate metabolism.

Project leader: Ľudmila Šabová
Project duration: 2007 - 2009

Project is dealing with the study of the mechanism by which pro-apoptotic proteins are functioning in cell using model organism yeast K.lactis. Our previous results suggested that the toxic effect of pro-apoptotic protein Bax in yeast is not based only on the induction of massive oxidative stress due to its insertion into mitochondrial membrane. We demonstreated that Bax has an effect also in respiratory deficient mutants K.lactis. In spite of this fact we did not prove an increase in ROS production. Recently published data showed a correlation between changes in actin cytoskeleton and apoptosis as well as between actin cytoskeleton and aging of cells. The aim of the project is to elucidate the role of two potentially actin binding proteins Oyep and Dld2 in cell death induced by Bax expression. Along with this aim we will study their physiological function and localization in cell.