AIF的生物特性与功能

The Biological Characteristics and Functions of AIF

凋亡诱导因子(AIF)是一种具有氧化还原酶活性的黄素蛋白,在参与线粒体组成和能量代谢方面发挥重要作用。此外,AIF是一种不依赖caspase的凋亡因子,在凋亡刺激影响下,AIF经蛋白酶水解形成57 kD的成熟AIF,释放到胞质中,通过自身的NLS及CypA的辅助作用转位入核,引起染色质凝集和DNA的大片段化,导致细胞凋亡。AIF的这种双功能性是由其结构决定的,特有的插入序列构像的改变可影响其诱导细胞凋亡的活性。本文主要对AIF的结构及其功能作用进行综述。

Apoptosis inducing factor（AIF） which is a flavoprotein with oxidoreductase activity,plays a vital role in maintenance of mitochondrial and energy metabolism.Moreover,AIF is a caspase-independent apoptosis factor.Upon an apoptotic insult,AIF undergoes roteolysis to form the mature form of AIF（57 kDa）,which is released into the cytoplasm.Through NLS and the help of CypA,the mature AIF translocates into the nucleu where it triggers chromatin condensation and large-scale DNA degradation and induces cell death.The dual functions of AIF may be determined by its crystal structure.Some conformational changes of the insertion sequence would affect its apoptosis activity.The structure and functions of AIF were reviewed in this article.