Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) is a highly conserved mitochondrial protein with roles in redox-biochemistry and apoptosis. Apoptosis is a controlled process of cell death necessary for proper physiological development and maintenance. Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential results in the release of several proteins critical to the acceleration of apoptosis. When AIF is released from the mitochondrial intermembrane space it migrates to the nucleus to initiate chromatin condensation and DNA cleavage. AIF is recognized by immunoblotting at 67 kDa in most tissues and cell lines.
