Mitochondrial apoptosis-inducing factor 1 (AIF)

Mitochondrial apoptosis-inducing factor 1 (AIFM1) is a flavoprotein that functions both as an NADH oxidoreductase involved in oxidative phosphorylation and as a key mediator of caspase-independent apoptosis. In healthy cells, AIF is anchored to the inner mitochondrial membrane, where it contributes to mitochondrial respiration and cristae structure[2]. Upon apoptotic stimuli, AIF is cleaved, released from the mitochondria, and translocated to the nucleus, where it induces large-scale DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation, independent of caspases[1][2]. AIF is also implicated in mitochondrial bioenergetics and may associate with respiratory chain complexes, such as cytochrome c oxidase, possibly modulating their activity or stability[3]. Dysregulation or mutations in AIF are associated with neurodegenerative diseases, severe mitochondrial dysfunction, and possibly other pathologies involving apoptosis or bioenergetic failure[5].

Other names

Apoptosis-inducing factor 1, mitochondrialAIFM1AIFAIF1