Tissue expression and subcellular localization of the pro-survival molecule Bcl-w.
Anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family, such as Bcl-w, maintain cell viability by preventing the activation of the cell death effectors, the caspases. Gene targeting experiments in mice have demonstrated that Bcl-w is required for spermatogenesis and for survival of damaged epithelial cells in the gut. Bcl-w is, however, dispensable for physiological cell death in other tissues. Here we report on the analysis of Bcl-w protein expression using a panel of novel monoclonal antibodies. Bcl-w is found in a diverse range of tissues including colon, brain and testes. A survey of transformed cell lines and purified hematopoietic cells demonstrated that Bcl-w is expressed in cells of myeloid, lymphoid and epithelial origin. Subcellular fractionation and confocal laser scanning microscopy demonstrated that Bcl-w protein is associated with intracellular membranes. The implications of these results are discussed in the context of the phenotype of Bcl-w-null mice and recent data that suggest that Bcl-w may play a role in colon carcinogenesis.
O'Reilly
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The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
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Hausmann
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Moriishi
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Cory
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Huang
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Strasser
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D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D006825:Hybridomas / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D021381:Protein Transport; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014162:Transfection
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C491073:BCL2L2 protein, human; C101155:Bcl2l2 protein, mouse; C491072:Bcl2l2 protein, rat; D011506:Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2