The properties of the mitochondrial megachannel in mitoplasts from human colon carcinoma cells are not influenced by Bax

This paper explores the relationship between Bax and the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP). Isolated human colon tumor (HCT116) Bax- mitochondria exposed to recombinant Bax exhibited a slow, cyclosporin A-sensitive swelling, but only at [Bax]>200 nM. The amount of Bax incorporated was much higher than that found in organelles isolated from HCT116 Bax+ staurosporine- or etoposide-treated apoptotic cells, casting doubts on the significance of the putative PT induction for apoptosis. Bax did not influence the electrophysiological properties of an approximately 1 nS channel ascribed to the Ca2+-dependent mitochondrial permeability transition pore. These observations indicate that the PTP is independent of Bax.