SLIDE 35 35
BH3 (Bcl-2 homology 3) domain
- “BH3 only” v.s. BID
- BID is a pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein containing
- nly the BH3 domain. In response to apoptotic
signaling, BID interacts with another Bcl-2 family protein, Bax (Bcl-2-associated X protein), leading to the insertion of Bax into organelle membranes, primarily the outer mitochondrial
- membrane. Bax is believed to interact with,
and induce the opening of the mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel, VDAC. Alternatively, growing evidence suggest that Alternatively, growing evidence suggest that activated Bax and/or Bak (Bcl-2 homologous antagonist killer) form an oligomeric pore, MAC (the mitochondrial-induced apoptosis channel) in the outer membrane. This results in the release of cytochrome c and other pro- apoptotic factors from the mitochondria, often referred to as mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization, leading to activation of
- caspases. This defines BID as a direct
activator of Bax, a role common to some of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins containing only the BH3 domain.