Investigation of the regulation of Bcl-2 family members in apoptosis and cancer

Abstract

Apoptosis is a highly controlled mechanism of cell suicide that is activated in response to cellular stress and damage. The Bcl-2 family of proteins play a key role in the regulation of this process. Opposing subsets of the Bcl-2 family either promote or inhibit apoptosis, and interaction between rival family members determines whether cell death will proceed. One subgroup, named the BH3-only proteins, are activated in response to pro-apoptotic stimuli and promote the deathinducing function of the Bax-related subgroup. The third subgroup of this family possess anti-apoptotic properties and antagonise the pro-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family through sequestration of these proteins.