AIFL Activators

Apoptosis Inducing Factor Mitochondria Associated 3 (AIFM3) would be a member of the apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) family characterized by its role in the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. AIF family members are generally mitochondrial flavoproteins that, upon apoptotic stimuli, translocate from the mitochondria to the nucleus to facilitate chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation, hallmarks of programmed cell death.

AIFM3, if it were to exist, would likely share structural domains with other AIF proteins, such as a flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-binding domain, which is critical for their oxidoreductase activity, and a C-terminal domain that could mediate its binding to DNA and chromatin. The protein might participate in redox reactions within the mitochondria under normal physiological conditions, contributing to the maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis.Upon apoptotic signals, AIFM3 would likely be released from the mitochondria into the cytosol and subsequently translocate to the nucleus. This release could be mediated by the permeabilization of the mitochondrial outer membrane, a process often regulated by pro-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family. In the nucleus, AIFM3 would induce DNA fragmentation, either by direct nuclease activity or by recruiting other DNA-degrading enzymes, leading to the controlled disassembly of the cell.