Puma strikes Bax.
The commitment to programmed cell death via apoptosis is largely made upon activation of the proapoptotic mitochondrial proteins Bax or Bak. In this issue, Gallenne et al. (Gallenne, C., F. Gautier, L. Oliver, E. Hervouet, B. Noël, J.A. Hickman, O. Geneste, P.-F. Cartron, F.M. Vallette, S. Manon, and P. Juin. 2009. J. Cell Biol. 185:279-290) provide evidence that the p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis (Puma) protein can directly activate Bax.
Letai
Anthony
A
Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA. anthony_letai@dfci.harvard.edu
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C438378:BBC3 protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein