Abstract
BCL-2 was isolated from the t(14;18) chromosomal breakpoint in follicular B-cell lymphoma1-3. Bcl-2 has the unique oncogenic role of extending cell survival by inhibiting a variety of apoptotic deaths4-13. An emerging family of Bcl-2 -related proteins share two highly conserved regions14-20 referred to here as Bcl-2 homology 1 and 2 (BH1 and BH2) domains (Fig. 1). This includes Bax which heterodimerizes with Bcl-2 and when overexpressed counteracts Bcl-214. We report here that site-specific mutagenesis of Bcl-2 establishes the two domains as novel dimerization motifs. Substitution of Gly 145 in BHl domain or Trp 188 in BH2 domain completely abrogated Bcl-2's death-repressor activity in interleukin-3 deprivation, γ-irradiation and glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis. Mutations that affected Bcl-2's function also disrupted its heterodimerization with Bax, yet still permitted Bcl-2 homodimerization. These results establish a functional role for the BH1 and BH2 domains and suggest Bcl-2 exerts its action through heterodimerization with Bax.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 321-323 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Nature |
Volume | 369 |
Issue number | 6478 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1994 |
Externally published | Yes |