In the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis, which proteins are activated following the p53 response?

In the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis, the activation of BAX and BAK is an essential event that follows the p53 response to cellular stress or DNA damage. When p53 is activated due to such stress, it plays a critical role in promoting the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins, including BAX and BAK.

BAX and BAK are members of the Bcl-2 protein family, which are integral to the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. When activated, BAX and BAK undergo conformational changes that lead to the oligomerization and formation of pores in the mitochondrial membrane. This process results in the release of cytochrome c and other pro-apoptotic factors from the mitochondria into the cytosol, which subsequently activates caspases — the key executioners of apoptosis.

Thus, the correct answer highlights the pivotal role of BAX and BAK as facilitators of cell death in response to p53-induced stress, marking a significant step in the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. The other proteins listed, such as caspases, are downstream effectors that are activated later in the process, while Bcl-2 is an anti-apoptotic protein that functions to inhibit apoptosis rather than promote it. TNF