This month
we feature an important family of proteins called Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2)
for use in cancer research or cell cycle research. These important regulators
of apoptosis have been implicated in a number of neoplasms, including melanoma,
breast, prostate, and lung carcinomas, as well as schizophrenia and autoimmunity.
The Bcl-2
family is comprised of more than 20 members, divided
into 3 subfamilies. Depending on Bcl-2 subcellular localization, it
can inhibit (anti-apoptotic members) or induce (pro-apoptotic members) apoptosis.
Bcl-2 Subfamilies:
1. Bcl-2
subfamily (pro-apoptotic): Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, Bcl-w, Mcl-1 and A1
2. Bax subfamily (pro-apoptotic): Bax, Bak and Bok
3. BH3 subfamily (pro-apoptotic): Bad, Bid, Bik, Blk, Hrk, BNIP3 and
BimL
Figure 1. Domain structure of Bcl-2
family proteins. [from Gustafsson, ÅB. and RA. Gottlieb, Am J Physiol
Cell Physiol 292, C45 ( 2007)].
Related Products
References:
Cory, S. and JM. Adams, Nature
Reviews 2, 647 (2002); Portier, B. and G.Taglialatela J. Biol. Chem.
281, 40493 (2006); Massaad, C. et al. J. Biol. Chem. 279,
54470 (2004); Denis, G. et al. J. Biol. Chem. 278, 5775
(2003); Internet, http://www.celldeath.de/encyclo/misc/bcl2.htm,
Oct. 24, 2007.
