Permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane initiates apoptotic cell death. B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) antagonist killer (BAK) and BCL-2-associated X (BAX) mediate mitochondrial poration, but how this process unfolds remains poorly defined. Two studies in this issue investigate the transition of dormant, inactive BAK monomer to a highly dynamic membrane-associated, pore-forming oligomer.

中文翻译：

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致命的变态：在膜上捕捉 BAK 的作用

线粒体外膜的透化启动凋亡细胞死亡。B 细胞淋巴瘤 2 (BCL-2) 拮抗剂杀伤剂 (BAK) 和 BCL-2 相关 X (BAX) 介导线粒体穿孔，但这一过程如何展开仍不清楚。本期的两项研究调查了休眠、非活性 BAK 单体向高度动态的膜相关、成孔低聚物的转变。