Humanin selectively prevents the activation of pro-apoptotic protein BID by sequestering it into fibers.

Members of the B-cell lymphoma (BCL-2) protein family regulate mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP), a phenomenon where mitochondria become porous and release death-propagating complexes during the early stages of apoptosis. Pro-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins oligomerize at the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) during MOMP, inducing pore formation. Of current interest are endogenous factors that can inhibit pro-apoptotic BCL-2 MOM translocation and oligomerization. A mitochondrial-derived peptide, Humanin (HN), was reported being expressed from an alternate open reading frame in the mitochondrial genome and inhibiting apoptosis through interactions with the pro-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins. Specifically, it is known to complex with BAX and BID. We recently reported the fibrillation of HN and BAX into β-sheets. Here, we detail the fibrillation between HN and BID. These fibers were characterized using several spectroscopic techniques, protease fragmentation with mass analysis and electron microscopy. Enhanced fibrillation rates were detected with rising temperatures or pH values and the presence of a detergent. BID fibers are similar to those produced using BAX, however, the structures differ in final conformations of the BCL-2 proteins. BID fibers display both types of secondary structure in the fiber whereas BAX was converted entirely to β-sheets. Data show that two distinct segments of BID are incorporated into the fiber structure while other portions of BID remain solvent exposed and retain helical structure. Similar analyses show that anti-apoptotic BCL-xL does not form fibers with humanin. These results support a general mechanism of sequestration of pro-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins into fibers by HN to inhibit MOMP.