BACKGROUND Mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) is a crucial step leading to apoptotic destruction of cancer cells. Bcl-2 family proteins delicately regulate mitochondrial outer membrane integrity through protein-protein interactions, which makes the mitochondrion an ideal cell-free system for screening molecules targeting the Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic proteins. But assay conditions ...

The molecular mechanisms underlying the initiation and control of the release of cytochrome c during mitochondrion-dependent apoptosis are thought to involve the phosphorylation of mitochondrial Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L). Although the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) has been proposed to mediate the phosphorylation of Bcl-2/Bcl-x(L) the mechanisms linking the modification of these proteins and the releas...

The Bcl-2-family proteins have long been known for their role as key regulators of apoptosis. Overexpression various members the family is associated with oncogenesis. Its founding member, anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 regulates cell death at different levels, whereby emerged a major drug target to eradicate cancers through death. This resulted in development venetoclax, antagonist that acts BH3 mimetic...

BACKGROUND Epidermal growth factor family members: EGF, EGFR and the c-erbB-2(HER-2/neu) are involved in the growth of pancreatic ductal carcinoma, its invasiveness and metastases. Similarly, proteins regulating apoptosis can influence the development of pancreatic cancer. The aim of our study was to assess the expressions of EGF, EGFR, c-erbB-2, Bax and Bcl-xL in comparison with anatomo-clinic...

Rottlerin is a polyphenolic compound derived from Mallotus philipinensis. In the present study, we show that rottlerin decreased tumor size and stimulated apoptosis in an orthotopic model of pancreatic cancer with no effect on normal tissues in vivo. Rottlerin also induced apoptosis in pancreatic cancer (PaCa) cell lines by interacting with mitochondria and stimulating cytochrome c release. Imm...

• BIRD-2 is an IP 3 R-derived peptide targeting Bcl-2’s BH4 domain, thereby disrupting R/Bcl-2 complexes. causes caspase-dependent cell death in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma lines. elicits apoptotic independently of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-family members Bim, Bax and Bak. BIRD-2-induced relies on mitochondrial Ca 2+ uptake permeability transition pore opening. Anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 critically c...

Apoptosis has been shown to serve as a mechanism by which cells infected with viruses, bacteria, or intracellular parasites can be eliminated without eliciting an unwanted inflammatory response. Not surprisingly intracellular pathogens have evolved mechanisms by which to inhibit apoptosis, not only avoiding the elimination of the host cell but also extending its life span. Inhibition of apoptos...

Aims-To describe the expression of three genes involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and programmed cell death (apoptosis) in normal, dysplastic and malignant large bowel epithelium, and to relate any alterations to important biological and clinical variables.Methods-Immunohistochemistry was used to assess bcl-2, c-myc and p53 gene expression in 70 colorectal carcinomas, 36 adenomas ...