bcl-w, a novel member of the bcl-2 family, promotes cell survival
- Author(s)
- Gibson, L; Holmgreen, SP; Huang, DCS; Bernand, O; Copeland, NG; Jenkins, NA; Sutherland, GR; Baker, E; Adams, JM; Cory, S;
- Details
- Publication Year 1996-08-15,Volume 13,Issue #4,Page 665-675
- Journal Title
- ONCOGENE
- Publication Type
- Journal Article
- Abstract
- The prototypic mammalian regulator of cell death is bcl-2, the oncogene implicated in the development of human follicular lymphoma. Several homologues of bcl-2 are now known. Using a PCR-based strategy we cloned a novel member of this gene family, denoted bcl-w. The gene, which is highly conserved between mouse and human, resides near the T-cell antigen receptor a gene within the central portion of mouse chromosome 14 and on human chromosome 14 at band q11. Enforced expression of bcl-w rendered lymphoid and myeloid cells refractory to several (but not all) cytotoxic conditions. Thus, like Bcl-2 and Bcl-x, the Bcl-w protein promotes cell survival, in contrast to other close homologues, Bar and Bak, which facilitate cell death. Comparison of the expected amino acid sequence of Bcl-w with that of these relatives helps to delineate residues likely to convey survival or anti-survival function. While expression of bcl-w was uncommon in B or T lymphoid cell lines, the mRNA was observed in almost all murine myeloid cell lines analysed and in a wide range of tissues. These findings suggest that bcl-w participates in the control of apoptosis in multiple cell types. Its functional similarity to bcl-2 also makes it an attractive candidate proto-oncogene.
- Publisher
- STOCKTON PRESS
- Keywords
- CHROMOSOMAL BREAKPOINT; CAENORHABDITIS-ELEGANS; PROTEIN IDENTIFICATION; ENDOPLASMIC-RETICULUM; PROTOONCOGENE BCL-2; SEQUENCE SIMILARITY; CONSERVED DOMAINS; MOLECULAR-CLONING; NUCLEAR-ENVELOPE; HOMOLOG BAK
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Creation Date: 1996-08-15 12:00:00