An Ode to Cytochrome C Mediated Apoptosis

Image from Martin, Vuori: Biochim Biophys Acta. 2004 Jul 5;1692(2-3):145-57.

An Ode to Cytochrome C Mediated Apoptosis

Cytochrome C, what came of thee?

Why from the mito did you flee?

I think I see where you went wrong,

to which I respond with this song.

Now Bax and Bak, dirty devils,

got together and made some channels.

Alone they could do no such thing

so Bid and Bim got in the swing.

Now Bid and Bim spell certain doom

(when Bim's not leading bands with brooms*).

But, hold, there is a saviour yet,

a protein that acts like a net!

Now, Bcl don't rhyme so well

except with quell, and fell and dwell.

All things are named, that is true,

and so we have xL and 2.

xL and 2 they can sequester

Bid and Bim before disaster.

And what's more, I'm glad to say,

They can keep Bax and Bak at bay.

Oh no, now, how could it be so

that something else jumped in the row!

Bad and Bik cut through these ties

and quickly they do sensitize

those devils, Bid and Bim, which fling

from Bcl, and then they cling

to Bax and Bak, which are now free

to open pores for cyto c!

Then, my friend, it's off to the races

because we now have the caspaces.

Now none can save, and I anoint

this cell beyond commitment point.

Now, that is all, this cell's life's dim

Because of Bax, Bad, Bik and Bim.

*With apologies to Theodor Geisel, and Bim