Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41223265›Full record

ArticleScience advances2025

The tumor suppressor LACTB remodels mitochondria to promote cytochrome c release and apoptosis.

Sukrut C Kamerkar, Taewook Kang, Radu V Stan, Edward J Usherwood, Henry N Higgs

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Science advances, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Sukrut C KamerkarDepartment of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-2848-7132
Taewook KangDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-8704-377X
Radu V StanDepartment of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
Edward J UsherwoodDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-5611-9700
Henry N HiggsDepartment of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-2917-9644

Funding

Translational Engineering in Cancer (TEC)P30CA023108 · NCI · DARTMOUTH COLLEGE · PI Fred W Kolling IV · 1985 to 2026
$91.3M
Understanding the role of RNA-binding protein mutations in cancerP20GM113132 · NIGMS · DARTMOUTH COLLEGE · PI MIERKE, DALE F · 2016 to 2025
$25.9M
The impact of dynamic actin polymerization on mitochondrial dynamics and functionR35GM122545 · NIGMS · DARTMOUTH COLLEGE · PI HENRY N HIGGS · 2017 to 2026
$7.7M
INF2 in kidney function and dysfunctionR01DK088826 · NIDDK · BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER · PI HENRY N HIGGS, MARTIN R. POLLAK · 2010 to 2026
$6.3M
Dissecting immune surveillance to gammaherpesvirusesR01AI155015 · NIAID · DARTMOUTH COLLEGE · PI USHERWOOD, EDWARD J · 2020 to 2024
$2.9M
Exploiting a novel regulator of immunometabolism to enhance immunotherapyR01CA257954 · NCI · DARTMOUTH COLLEGE · PI Edward J Usherwood · 2022 to 2026
$2.4M
Novel regulators, components and function of endothelial diaphragmsR01HL155824 · NHLBI · DARTMOUTH COLLEGE · PI STAN, RADU VIRGIL · 2021 to 2024
$1.6M
NCI NIH HHS P30 CA023108NCI NIH HHS R01 CA257954NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL155824NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI155015NIDDK NIH HHS R01 DK088826NIGMS NIH HHS P20 GM113132NIGMS NIH HHS R35 GM122545
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Mitochondria are pivotal regulators of cellular homeostasis, integrating energy metabolism, biosynthesis, and programmed cell death (apoptosis). During apoptosis, mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization by BCL-2-associated X protein/BCL-2 Homolog Antagonist Killer (BAX/BAK) pores facilitates release of apoptotic factors, while the role of inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) remodeling remains less understood. Here, we identify serine beta-lactamase-like protein (LACTB), a filament-forming serine protease and tumor suppressor, as a regulator of IMM dynamics during apoptosis. LACTB suppression reduces cytochrome c release and apoptosis, whereas its overexpression promotes these effects. LACTB does not affect BAX or Drp1 recruitment to mitochondria. Rather, LACTB is required for apoptosis-induced mitochondrial remodeling, independent of OPA1 processing. Intriguingly, LACTB knockdown does not affect mitochondrial shape changes induced by CCCP treatment, suggesting that LACTB action is apoptosis-specific. Purified LACTB binds and remodels cardiolipin-enriched membrane nanotubes preferentially over planar lipid membranes, suggesting a direct effect in apoptotic membrane remodeling. Collectively, our findings suggest LACTB to be a mediator of apoptosis-induced IMM remodeling, a possible mechanism for tumor suppression in cancer.

Indexed as

ApoptosisCytochromes cMitochondriaTumor Suppressor Proteinsbcl-2-Associated X ProteinHeLa CellsHumansMitochondrial Membranesbcl-2-Associated X ProteinCytochromes cTumor Suppressor Proteins

Identifiers

PMID41223265
PMCPMC12609066

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.