In cyanide-induced apoptosis, an increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ and generation of reactive oxygen species are initiation stimuli for apoptotic cell death. Previous studies have shown that cyanide-stimulated translocation of Bax (Bcl-associated X protein) to mitochondria is linked with release of cytochrome c and subsequent activation of a caspase cascade [Shou, Li, Prabhakaran, Borowitz and Isom (2003) Toxicol. Sci. 75, 99-107]. In the present study, the relationship of the cyanide-induced increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ to activation of Bad ( Bcl-2/Bcl-X(L)- antagonist, causing cell death) was determined in cortical cells. Bad is a Ca2+-sensitive pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein, which on activation translocates from cytosol to mitochondria to initiate cytochrome c release. In cultured primary cortical cells, cyanide produced a concentration- and time-dependent translocation of Bad from cytosol to mitochondria. Translocation occurred early in the apoptotic response, since mitochondrial Bad was detected within 1 h of cyanide treatment. Mitochondrial levels of the protein continued to increase up to 12 h post-cyanide exposure. Concurrent with Bad translocation, a Ca2+-sensitive increase in cellular calcineurin activity was observed. Increased cytosolic Ca2+ and calcineurin activation stimulated Bad translocation since BAPTA [bis-(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N, N, N', N'-tetra-acetic acid], an intracellular Ca2+ chelator, and cyclosporin A, a calcineurin inhibitor, significantly reduced translocation. BAPTA also blocked release of cytochrome c from mitochondria as well as apoptosis. Furthermore, treatment of cells with the calcineurin inhibitors cyclosporin A or FK506 blocked the apoptotic response, linking calcineurin activation and the subsequent translocation of Bad to cell death. These observations show that by inducing a rapid increase in cytosolic free Ca2+, cyanide can partially initiate the apoptotic cascade through a calcineurin-mediated translocation of Bad to mitochondria.