May 2005

The Bcl-2 family tree

In the June 1 issue of G&D, Dr. David Huang and colleagues reveal how members of the Bcl-2 protein family interact to regulate apoptosis. Specifically, the researchers demonstrate that the pro-survival proteins, Mcl-1 and Bcl-xL, sequester a key mediator of apoptosis, Bak, and that the displacement of Bak is sufficient to initiate apoptosis. Insight into Bak-mediated apoptosis will "enhance our understanding of how cell death normally proceeds as well as providing novel avenues for the development of agents to trigger the killing of damaged cells, such as tumorigenic ones," explains Dr. Huang.