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. 1998 Aug 10;1366(1-2):127-37.
doi: 10.1016/s0005-2728(98)00108-x.

Bcl-2 family proteins and mitochondria

J C Reed  1 , J M Jurgensmeier, S Matsuyama
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Free article

Bcl-2 family proteins and mitochondria

J C Reed et al. Biochim Biophys Acta. .
Free article

Abstract

The Bcl-2 family of proteins plays a pivotal role in regulating cell life and death. Many of these proteins reside in the outer mitochondrial membrane, oriented towards the cytosol. Cytoprotective Bcl-2 family proteins such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL prevent mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening and release of apoptogenic proteins from mitochondria under many circumstances that would otherwise result in either apoptosis or necrosis. In contrast, some pro-apoptotic members of this family such as Bax can induce these destructive changes in mitochondria in both mammalian cells and when expressed exogenously in yeast. The mechanisms by which Bcl-2 family proteins control cell life and death remain elusive, but may include both the ability to form ion channels or pores in membranes and physical interactions with a variety of proteins implicated in apoptosis regulation.

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