title: Novel genetic and peptide-based strategies targeting the Bcl-2 family, an update.
abstract: By controlling mitochondrial membrane permeability, the Bcl-2 family of proteins plays a crucial role in the regulation of cell death. Members of this family are functionally categorized as either pro- or anti-apoptotic based on their ability to promote or inhibit mitochondrial-dependent cell death signals. The critical role of Bcl-2 family proteins in human diseases has made them the focus of intense research by the pharmaceutical industry and academia. Anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 homologues have been widely explored as potential therapeutic targets for anticancer therapy through the development of nucleic-acid and peptide-based inhibitory molecules. Recently, strategies for the development of peptides or polypeptides derived from specific Bcl-2 family members have also been devised. This paper provides a brief review of the most recent patents that have been published relating to this area.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, Lyon, France. a.aouacheria@ibcp.fr
authors.forename: Abdel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aouacheria
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis; D015195:Drug Design; D020868:Gene Silencing; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D010330:Patents as Topic; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010455:Peptides; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2