Review
Control of mitochondrial permeability by Bcl-2 family members

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbamcr.2003.10.016Get rights and content
Under an Elsevier user license
open archive

Abstract

Programmed cell death (apoptosis) is regulated by the Bcl-2 family of proteins. Although it remains unclear how these family members control apoptosis, they clearly have the capacity to regulate the permeability of intracellular membranes to ions and proteins. Proapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family, especially Bax and Bid, have been extensively analyzed for the ability to form channels in membranes and to regulate preexisting channels. Anti-apoptotic members of the family tend to have the opposing effects on membrane channel formation. The molecular mechanisms of the different models for the permeabilization of membranes by the Bcl-2 family members and the regulation of Bcl-2 family member subcellular localizations are discussed.

Keywords

Bax
Bid
Mitochondrion
Channel

Cited by (0)

1

Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, Chicago State University, Chicago, IL 60628, USA.