{"entity": "researcher", "timestamp": "2026-07-18T17:28:32.840Z", "family": "Wacklin-Knecht", "given": "Hanna P", "initials": "HP", "orcid": "0000-0002-5248-1147", "affiliations": ["European Spallation Source ERIC, ESS, P.O. Box 176, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden.", "Department of Chemistry, Division of Physical Chemistry, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden."], "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/962e09a261294bcea30f21ae45b23177.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/962e09a261294bcea30f21ae45b23177"}}, "publications": [{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "872c7a106b1e474792fbaa94e504a7ca", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/publication/872c7a106b1e474792fbaa94e504a7ca.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/publication/872c7a106b1e474792fbaa94e504a7ca"}}, "title": "Avoiding Mitochondrial Apoptosis by the Bcl-2-Driven Bax Oligomerization on Membrane Surfaces", "authors": [{"family": "Ayscough", "given": "Sophie E", "initials": "SE"}, {"family": "Clifton", "given": "Luke A", "initials": "LA", "orcid": "0000-0001-8754-362X", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/e26f83508bc7451a9d66123eb9ea747c.json"}}, {"family": "\u00c5d\u00e9n", "given": "J\u00f6rgen", "initials": "J", "orcid": "0000-0002-4480-1219", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/00206abad0de45eb90dc6bd3d5f3cf22.json"}}, {"family": "K\u00f6hler", "given": "Sebastian", "initials": "S", "orcid": "0000-0001-9707-9023", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/955fd789119a4e5f9ec314275095a70e.json"}}, {"family": "Paracini", "given": "Nicol\u00f2", "initials": "N", "orcid": "0000-0003-3178-4867", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/640d007b304247b9bebd4837bdeba788.json"}}, {"family": "Doutch", "given": "James", "initials": "J", "orcid": "0000-0003-0747-8368", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/4e1b2f6a54554068b76215bdc2554b61.json"}}, {"family": "Bragginton", "given": "\u00c9il\u00eds C", "initials": "\u00c9C"}, {"family": "Leung", "given": "Anna E", "initials": "AE", "orcid": "0000-0002-8196-9774", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/0f083dbf21ad4cdbbbea7248331949bf.json"}}, {"family": "Bogojevic", "given": "Oliver", "initials": "O"}, {"family": "Poon", "given": "Jia Fei", "initials": "JF", "orcid": "0000-0002-5568-7415", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/743b924c930841eea6c30fddd62f7a10.json"}}, {"family": "Nagy", "given": "Tam\u00e1s Mil\u00e1n", "initials": "TM", "orcid": "0000-0003-4766-1992", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/22a9fd6e6a4e46b2ae2bc0166f62e092.json"}}, {"family": "Wacklin-Knecht", "given": "Hanna P", "initials": "HP", "orcid": "0000-0002-5248-1147", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/962e09a261294bcea30f21ae45b23177.json"}}, {"family": "Gr\u00f6bner", "given": "Gerhard", "initials": "G", "orcid": "0000-0001-7380-8797", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/85bd86ebc85d4653bc880bc9be25bc80.json"}}], "type": "journal-article", "published": "2026-03-20", "journal": {"title": "ACS Chem. Biol.", "issn": "1554-8929", "volume": "21", "issue": "3", "pages": "565-576", "issn-l": null}, "abstract": "The Bcl-2 family of proteins governs mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) permeabilization, a critical step in apoptosis that is dysfunctional in many cancers. Although cellular studies have long implicated direct interactions between the pore-forming apoptotic Bax protein and its opponent, the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein in apoptosis regulation, the underlying basic principles behind this control remained unresolved. To provide in-depth insight, we carried out a systematic biophysical study in which we utilized neutron reflectometry (NR) and ATR-FTIR to elucidate the molecular communication between those proteins in and around the mitochondrial membrane environment. The spatial and temporal changes across model MOM surfaces were resolved during the interaction of Bax with Bcl-2. The NR-derived membrane surface Bax distributions suggested that Bcl-2 mediated Bax sequestration through both Bcl-2/Bax heterodimerization and Bax/Bax oligomerization. Kinetic analysis revealed a two-step process: rapid formation of Bcl-2/Bax heterodimers, followed by slower Bax oligomerization on these complexes. Importantly, this sequestration mechanism was also observed in the presence of cardiolipin, a lipid known to promote the formation of an apoptotic pore by Bax in the absence of Bcl-2. These findings suggest a fundamental mechanism by which cancer cells may evade apoptosis by exploiting Bcl-2's ability to neutralize Bax through structural entrapment, even if excess Bax is present, either in response to treatment or natural death signals.", "doi": "10.1021/acschembio.5c00913", "pmid": "41705766", "labels": {"Swedish NMR Centre": "Collaborative"}, "xrefs": [], "notes": [], "created": "2026-03-06T09:26:31.753Z", "modified": "2026-03-24T09:09:22.716Z"}, {"entity": "publication", "iuid": "ee06f5e7b1734f8bbe85e081d1a2649b", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/publication/ee06f5e7b1734f8bbe85e081d1a2649b.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/publication/ee06f5e7b1734f8bbe85e081d1a2649b"}}, "title": "Creation of distinctive Bax-lipid complexes at mitochondrial membrane surfaces drives pore formation to initiate apoptosis.", "authors": [{"family": "Clifton", "given": "Luke A", "initials": "LA", "orcid": "0000-0001-8754-362X", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/e26f83508bc7451a9d66123eb9ea747c.json"}}, {"family": "Wacklin-Knecht", "given": "Hanna P", "initials": "HP", "orcid": "0000-0002-5248-1147", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/962e09a261294bcea30f21ae45b23177.json"}}, {"family": "\u00c5d\u00e9n", "given": "J\u00f6rgen", "initials": "J", "orcid": "0000-0002-4480-1219", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/00206abad0de45eb90dc6bd3d5f3cf22.json"}}, {"family": "Mushtaq", "given": "Ameeq Ul", "initials": "AU", "orcid": "0000-0002-5636-2567", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/d8b77280f8a9463a9af768275bc80ae9.json"}}, {"family": "Sparrman", "given": "Tobias", "initials": "T", "orcid": "0000-0002-4442-6367", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/f0d27dbd2f014795b1f7aa164d34bada.json"}}, {"family": "Gr\u00f6bner", "given": "Gerhard", "initials": "G", "orcid": "0000-0001-7380-8797", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/85bd86ebc85d4653bc880bc9be25bc80.json"}}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2023-06-02", "journal": {"title": "Sci Adv", "issn": "2375-2548", "volume": "9", "issue": "22", "pages": "eadg7940", "issn-l": "2375-2548"}, "abstract": "Apotosis is an essential process tightly regulated by the Bcl-2 protein family where proapoptotic Bax triggers cell death by perforating the mitochondrial outer membrane. Although intensively studied, the molecular mechanism by which these proteins create apoptotic pores remains elusive. Here, we show that Bax creates pores by extracting lipids from outer mitochondrial membrane mimics by formation of Bax/lipid clusters that are deposited on the membrane surface. Time-resolved neutron reflectometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed two kinetically distinct phases in the pore formation process, both of which were critically dependent on cardiolipin levels. The initially fast adsorption of Bax on the mitochondrial membrane surface is followed by a slower formation of pores and Bax-lipid clusters on the membrane surface. Our findings provide a robust molecular understanding of mitochondrial membrane perforation by cell-killing Bax protein and illuminate the initial phases of programmed cellular death.", "doi": "10.1126/sciadv.adg7940", "pmid": "37267355", "labels": {"Swedish NMR Centre": "Collaborative"}, "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC10413641"}], "notes": [], "created": "2023-06-03T11:52:12.695Z", "modified": "2025-10-17T13:03:53.830Z"}]}