The Mitochondrial Apoptosis-Induced Channel (or MAC), is an early marker of the onset of apoptosis

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death that may occur in multicellular organisms. Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes and death. These changes include blebbing, cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and chromosomal DNA fragmentation...

.  This ion channel

Ion channel

Ion channels are pore-forming proteins that help establish and control the small voltage gradient across the plasma membrane of cells by allowing the flow of ions down their electrochemical gradient. They are present in the membranes that surround all biological cells...

 is formed on the outer mitochondrial membrane

Outer mitochondrial membrane

thumb|300px|Mitochondria structure :1) [[Inner membrane]]2) Outer membrane3) [[Crista]]4) [[Matrix |Matrix]]The outer mitochondrial membrane, which encloses the entire organelle, has a protein-to-phospholipid ratio similar to the eukaryotic plasma membrane...

 in response to certain apoptotic stimuli.  MAC activity is detected by patch clamp

Patch clamp

The patch clamp technique is a laboratory technique in electrophysiology that allows the study of single or multiple ion channels in cells. The technique can be applied to a wide variety of cells, but is especially useful in the study of excitable cells such as neurons, cardiomyocytes, muscle...

ing mitochondria from apoptotic cells at the time of cytochrome c

Cytochrome c

The Cytochrome complex, or cyt c is a small heme protein found loosely associated with the inner membrane of the mitochondrion. It belongs to the cytochrome c family of proteins. Cytochrome c is a highly soluble protein, unlike other cytochromes, with a solubility of about 100 g/L and is an...

 release.

Members of the Bcl-2 protein family

Bcl-2

Bcl-2 is the founding member of the Bcl-2 family of apoptosis regulator proteins encoded by the BCL2 gene. Bcl-2 derives its name from B-cell lymphoma 2, as it is the second member of a range of proteins initially described in chromosomal translocations involving chromosomes 14 and 18 in...

 regulate apoptosis by controlling the formation of MAC: the pro-apoptotic members Bax

Bcl-2-associated X protein

The Bcl-2–associated X protein, or Bax is a protein of the Bcl-2 gene family. It promotes apoptosis by competing with Bcl-2 proper.The BAX gene was the first identified pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 protein family....

 and/or Bak

Bcl-2 homologous antagonist killer

Bcl-2 homologous antagonist/killer is a protein that in humans is encoded by the BAK1 gene. BAK1 orthologs have been identified in most mammals for which complete genome data are available....

 form MAC, whereas the anti-apoptotic members like Bcl-2

Bcl-2

Bcl-2 is the founding member of the Bcl-2 family of apoptosis regulator proteins encoded by the BCL2 gene. Bcl-2 derives its name from B-cell lymphoma 2, as it is the second member of a range of proteins initially described in chromosomal translocations involving chromosomes 14 and 18 in...

 or Bcl-xL

Bcl-xL

B-cell lymphoma-extra large is a transmembrane molecule in the mitochondria. It is involved in the signal transduction pathway of the FAS-L. It is one of several anti-apoptotic proteins which are members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins. It has been implicated in the survival of cancer cells. Other...

prevent MAC formation.  Once formed, MAC mediates the release of cytochrome c to the cytosol, triggering the commitment step of the mitochondrial apoptotic cascade.  Depletion of MAC activity is accomplished pharmacologically by specific compounds, namely Bax Channel Inhibitors and MAC inhibitors.  Either by knocking down MAC’s main components or by its pharmacological inhibition, the end result is prevention of cytochrome c release and apoptosis.