Pro-Apoptosis Bcl-2 Family Antibody Sampler Kit II

The Bcl-2 family consists of a number of evolutionarily conserved proteins containing Bcl-2 homology domains (BH) that regulate apoptosis through control of mitochondrial membrane permeability and release of cytochrome c (1-3). Four BH domains have been identified (BH1-4) that mediate protein interactions. The family can be separated into three groups based upon function and sequence homology: pro-survival members include Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Mcl-1, A1 and Bcl-w; pro-apoptotic proteins include Bax, Bak and Bok; and "BH3 only" proteins Bad, Bik, Bid, Puma, Bim, Bmf, Noxa and Hrk. Interactions between death-promoting and death-suppressing Bcl-2 family members has led to a rheostat model in which the ratio of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins controls cell fate (4). Thus, pro-survival members exert their behavior by binding to and antagonizing death-promoting members. In general, the "BH3-only members" can bind to and antagonize the pro-survival proteins leading to increased apoptosis (5). While some redundancy of this system likely exists, tissue specificity, transcriptional and post-translational regulation of many of these family members can account for distinct physiological roles. 1.Cory, S. et al. (2003) Oncogene 22, 8590-607. 2.Antonsson, B. and Martinou, J.C. (2000) Exp Cell Res 256, 50-7. 3.Sharpe, J.C. et al. (2004) Biochim Biophys Acta 1644, 107-13. 4.Korsmeyer, S.J. et al. (1993) Semin Cancer Biol 4, 327-32. 5.Bouillet, P. and Strasser, A. (2002) J Cell Sci 115, 1567-74.