Induction of apoptosis by the Bcl-2 homologue Bak.
Cells are eliminated in a variety of physiological settings by apoptosis, a genetically encoded process of cellular suicide. Apoptosis comprises an intrinsic cellular defence against tumorigenesis, which, when suppressed, may contribute to the development of malignancies. The bcl-2 oncogene, which is activated in follicular lymphomas, functions as a potent suppressor of apoptosis under diverse conditions. Here we describe the complementary DNA cloning and functional analysis of a new Bcl-2 homologue, Bak, which promotes cell death and counteracts the protection from apoptosis provided by Bcl-2. Moreover, enforced expression of Bak induces rapid and extensive apoptosis of serum-deprived fibroblasts. This raises the possibility that Bak is directly involved in activating the cell death machinery.
Chittenden
T
T
Apoptosis Technology Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Harrington
E A
EA
O'Connor
R
R
Flemington
C
C
Lutz
R J
RJ
Evan
G I
GI
Guild
B C
BC
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051381:Rats; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein
C494772:BAK1 protein, human; C494773:Bak1 protein, mouse; C494774:Bak1 protein, rat; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein