Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Channel and Tem: Structural and Functional Analysis by Tem and Electrophysiology

Mitochondria mediated programmed cell death is still an enigma, largely fuelled by the little known mechanism of important Inter Membrane Space (IMS) protein release in the cytosol from the mitochondria. These proteins start execution phase of apoptosis in many cells, initializing the death of the cell. This book proposes a novel idea and supports it by ample and appropriate evidences. Ceramide (sphingolipid), self assembles to forms a channel in the Mitochondrial Outer Membrane (MOM), to mediate IMS protein release at the onset of apoptosis. This book, for the first time provides direct structural evidence of the channel. Until now all published data were functional in nature. Transmission electron micrographs and its software-assisted analysis (structural) were compared with electrophysiological data (functional),to show the nice convergence between them. The data presented in the book therefore relies on self-validation by comparing data from different sources. This book will be a great tool for advanced students and researchers interested in the field of apoptosis, which has an intertwined relation with cancer. The book thus will help eradicate this deadly disease.