Anti-AIF antibody (ab2086)

Function

Probable oxidoreductase that has a dual role in controlling cellular life and death; during apoptosis, it is translocated from the mitochondria to the nucleus to function as a proapoptotic factor in a caspase-independent pathway, while in normal mitochondria, it functions as an antiapoptotic factor via its oxidoreductase activity. The soluble form (AIFsol) found in the nucleus induces 'parthanatos' i.e., caspase-independent fragmentation of chromosomal DNA. Interacts with EIF3G,and thereby inhibits the EIF3 machinery and protein synthesis, and activates casapse-7 to amplify apoptosis. Plays a critical role in caspase-independent, pyknotic cell death in hydrogen peroxide-exposed cells. Binds to DNA in a sequence-independent manner.

Involvement in disease

Defects in AIFM1 are the cause of combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency type 6 (COXPD6) [MIM:300816]. It is a mitochondrial disease resulting in a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by psychomotor delay, hypotonia, areflexia, muscle weakness and wasting.

Sequence similarities

Belongs to the FAD-dependent oxidoreductase family.

Post-translational
modifications

Under normal conditions, a 54-residue N-terminal segment is first proteolytically removed during or just after translocation into the mitochondrial intermembrane space (IMS) by the mitochondrial processing peptidase (MPP) to form the inner-membrane-anchored mature form (AIFmit). During apoptosis, it is further proteolytically processed at amino-acid position 101 leading to the generation of the mature form, which is confined to the mitochondrial IMS in a soluble form (AIFsol). AIFsol is released to the cytoplasm in response to specific death signals, and translocated to the nucleus, where it induces nuclear apoptosis in a caspase-independent manner.

Cellular localization

Mitochondrion intermembrane space. Mitochondrion inner membrane. Cytoplasm. Nucleus. Cytoplasm > perinuclear region. Proteolytic cleavage during or just after translocation into the mitochondrial intermembrane space (IMS) results in the formation of an inner-membrane-anchored mature form (AIFmit). During apoptosis, further proteolytic processing leads to a mature form, which is confined to the mitochondrial IMS in a soluble form (AIFsol). AIFsol is released to the cytoplasm in response to specific death signals, and translocated to the nucleus, where it induces nuclear apoptosis. Colocalizes with EIF3G in the nucleus and perinuclear region.

Alternative names

Database links