The effect of the yeast cell-death inducing agents, Bax and acetic acid, on mitochondrial structure of Schizosaccharomyces pombe was studied. Comparison of mitochondrial structures in cells grown on different substrates and visualized with different probes revealed variations in their morphology. Cells grown on respiratory C sources as well as in the presence of antimycin A exhibited punctuated mitochondria when visualized with mitochondrially targeted green fluorescent protein, while they still appeared as tubular structures when stained with DiOC6(3). Both expression of Bax and acetic acid treatment induced fragmentation and aggregation of mitochondrial network, which could be prevented by coexpression of Bcl-XL. Aberrant mitochondrial morphology generated by either Bax or acetic acid was not accompanied with the loss of mitochondrial genome (mtDNA), indicating that alterations of mitochondrial morphology following death stimuli follow different mechanisms than those involved in mitochondrial inheritance mutants.

• MeSH
• Cell Death drug effects   physiology   MeSH
• DNA, Fungal genetics   MeSH
• Microscopy, Fluorescence MeSH
• Carbocyanines chemistry   MeSH
• Acetic Acid pharmacology   MeSH
• DNA, Mitochondrial genetics   MeSH
• Mitochondria drug effects   physiology   ultrastructure   MeSH
• Plasmids genetics   MeSH
• bcl-2-Associated X Protein biosynthesis   genetics   physiology   MeSH
• Schizosaccharomyces drug effects   genetics   physiology   MeSH
• Blotting, Southern MeSH
• Transformation, Genetic MeSH
• Green Fluorescent Proteins biosynthesis   genetics   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• 3,3'-dihexyl-2,2'-oxacarbocyanine MeSH Browser
• DNA, Fungal MeSH
• Carbocyanines MeSH
• Acetic Acid MeSH
• DNA, Mitochondrial MeSH
• bcl-2-Associated X Protein MeSH
• Green Fluorescent Proteins MeSH