Question

Investigators interested in studying the activation of apoptosis inject cytochrome c into the cytosol of two types of mammalian cells: cells that are normal and cells in which Bak and Bax have been inactivated by mutation. How would these cells be predicted to respond?

Choose one:

A. The normal cells will undergo apoptosis and the mutant cells will continue to grow.

B. The mutant cells will undergo apoptosis and the normal cells will continue to grow.

C. Neither cell type will undergo apoptosis, so both will continue to grow.

D. The normal cells will undergo apoptosis and the mutant cells will die by necrosis.

E. Both cell types will undergo apoptosis.

Answer 1

The answer is option E) Both cell types will undergo apoptosis.

After the induction of intrinsic death signals, the pro-apoptotic family members BAX and BAK at the mitochondria gets activated and its release of cytochrome c and apoptosome activation leads to apoptosis. Even if we have mutated Bax and Bak cell and directly add it to the cytochrome C, it makes the apoptosome and undergo apoptosis.