Functions and Mutations of the Proapoptotic Protein bax in Yeast Cells

Recent research has shown there is a direct connection between the mitochondrial outer membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum. In light of this information, the purpose of this research project was to determine whether the proapoptotic protein bax uses this connection as a mechanism of entry into the outer membrane of mitochondria. The major goal of this research effort is determine if changes in the interaction of the mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) interaction will affect, either positively or negatively, the activities of the bax protein. To determine this, a group of mutations that affect the binding between the mitochondria and the ER were selected and were crossed with bax producing yeast. Overall, the presence of mutations appeared to have little effect of the activities of bax. The results supported the conclusion that the proapoptotic protein bax was not affected by alterations to the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum.