Confocal imaging of Bim translocation to endoplasmic reticulum during DHA-induced ASTC-a-1 cell apoptosis

Bim, a proapoptotic member of Bcl-2 family, plays an important role in cell apoptosis. It is generally thought that Bim translocates to mitochondria in response to apoptotic stimuli. We use confocal microscopy to image the temporal-spatial dynamics of Bim during dihydroartemisinin （DHA） induced human lung adenocarcinoma （ASTC-a-1） cell apoptosis. Interestingly, we find that DHA induces Bim translocation to endoplasmic reticulum （ER） rather than mitochondria, implying that Bim-ER pathway might be involved in the DHA-induced ASTC-a-1 cell apoptosis.