title: Characterization of pro-apoptotic gene Bak using hammerhead ribozymes.
abstract: Bak gene encodes a 23kDa-protein homologue of apoptosis inhibitor Bcl-2. Unlike Bcl-2, Bak stimulates several apoptosis pathways, and by interacting with Bcl-2 or Bcl-XL, it counteracts the anti-cell death effect. Enforced expression of Bak induces rapid and extensive apoptosis of serum-deprived fibroblasts. In contrast, the mutation of the Bak gene was observed in several cancer cells, suggesting a deficiency of the Bak cellular function can cause a cancerous malignancy. Although many studies of Bak have been performed, the mechanisms by which Bak functions in mammalian cells remain unclear. In this study, we constructed a hammerhead ribozyme specifically targeted to the Bak mRNA for inhibition of the intracellular function of Bak. This Bak-ribozyme should be useful for a detailed functional analysis of Bak.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Hongo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Suyama
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taira
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017209:Apoptosis; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein
chemical_list: C494772:BAK1 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; C427204:hammerhead ribozyme