Aladin Haimovici

Loading metrics Open Access Peer-reviewed Research Article ? This is an uncorrected proof. Citation: Mesesan A, Oehler H, Kontchou CW, Haimovici A, Helmstädter M, Kretz O, et al. (2026) Chlamydial membrane vesicles deliver the beta barrel outer membrane protein OmpA to mitochondria to inhibit apoptosis. PLoS Pathog 22(2): e1013247. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1013247 Editor: Jason A.

Abstract Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular bacteria that inhibit mitochondrial apoptosis to maintain integrity of the host cell. We have previously reported that a chlamydial outer membrane β-barrel protein, the porin OmpA, can during ectopic expression inhibit mitochondrial apoptosis through direct interaction with the BCL-2-family effectors BAX and BAK.

Abstract SMAC is a mitochondrial intermembrane space protein, which is released during apoptosis and whose known function is antagonism of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins in the cytosol, to facilitate caspase activation. Recent data suggest that SMAC can also be released by sub-lethal signals in the apoptosis pathway, in the absence of cell death. We here explored potential functions of SMAC in non-apoptotic cells.