Abstract
The Bcl-2 family of cytoplasmic proteins are major regulators of programmed cell death. This process of cellular suicide, termed apoptosis, is thought to be conserved among all multicellular organisms. Apoptosis is vital for normal development, maintenance of tissue homeostasis, and proper immune function; disturbances in it are implicated in many disorders including cancer, degenerative diseases, and autoimmune disorders. Members of the Bcl-2 family, some of which work in opposition to the others, determine whether a cell undergoes apoptosis. The process of apoptosis is ultimately carried out by proteases of the caspase group, which cleave vital cellular proteins. However, the caspases are normally maintained as inactive precursors. Thus, the Bcl-2 family, in response to developmental and environmental cues and various intracellular damage signals, determines whether certain pro-caspases are activated in order to initiate the proteolytic cascade that causes cell death. Mutations in the BCL2 gene are seen in several different types of cancer. Mutations that deregulate apoptosis may also render cancer cells resistant to therapy. Knowledge of the intricacies of the BCL2-regulated apoptosis pathway has led scientists to create novel chemotherapeutic agents targeting the Bcl-2 family of proteins to facilitate tumor cell destruction.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Brenner's Encyclopedia of Genetics |
| Subtitle of host publication | Second Edition |
| Publisher | Elsevier Inc. |
| Pages | 310-312 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9780080961569 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780123749840 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 27 2013 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Apoptosis
- Autoimmune disorders
- BH3-only proteins
- Cancer
- Caspase
- Programmed cell death
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Bcl-2 Gene Family. / Madden Felicella, M.; Jen, Kuang-Yu.
Brenner's Encyclopedia of Genetics: Second Edition. Elsevier Inc., 2013. p. 310-312.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
}
TY - CHAP
T1 - Bcl-2 Gene Family
AU - Madden Felicella, M.
AU - Jen, Kuang-Yu
PY - 2013/2/27
Y1 - 2013/2/27
N2 - The Bcl-2 family of cytoplasmic proteins are major regulators of programmed cell death. This process of cellular suicide, termed apoptosis, is thought to be conserved among all multicellular organisms. Apoptosis is vital for normal development, maintenance of tissue homeostasis, and proper immune function; disturbances in it are implicated in many disorders including cancer, degenerative diseases, and autoimmune disorders. Members of the Bcl-2 family, some of which work in opposition to the others, determine whether a cell undergoes apoptosis. The process of apoptosis is ultimately carried out by proteases of the caspase group, which cleave vital cellular proteins. However, the caspases are normally maintained as inactive precursors. Thus, the Bcl-2 family, in response to developmental and environmental cues and various intracellular damage signals, determines whether certain pro-caspases are activated in order to initiate the proteolytic cascade that causes cell death. Mutations in the BCL2 gene are seen in several different types of cancer. Mutations that deregulate apoptosis may also render cancer cells resistant to therapy. Knowledge of the intricacies of the BCL2-regulated apoptosis pathway has led scientists to create novel chemotherapeutic agents targeting the Bcl-2 family of proteins to facilitate tumor cell destruction.
AB - The Bcl-2 family of cytoplasmic proteins are major regulators of programmed cell death. This process of cellular suicide, termed apoptosis, is thought to be conserved among all multicellular organisms. Apoptosis is vital for normal development, maintenance of tissue homeostasis, and proper immune function; disturbances in it are implicated in many disorders including cancer, degenerative diseases, and autoimmune disorders. Members of the Bcl-2 family, some of which work in opposition to the others, determine whether a cell undergoes apoptosis. The process of apoptosis is ultimately carried out by proteases of the caspase group, which cleave vital cellular proteins. However, the caspases are normally maintained as inactive precursors. Thus, the Bcl-2 family, in response to developmental and environmental cues and various intracellular damage signals, determines whether certain pro-caspases are activated in order to initiate the proteolytic cascade that causes cell death. Mutations in the BCL2 gene are seen in several different types of cancer. Mutations that deregulate apoptosis may also render cancer cells resistant to therapy. Knowledge of the intricacies of the BCL2-regulated apoptosis pathway has led scientists to create novel chemotherapeutic agents targeting the Bcl-2 family of proteins to facilitate tumor cell destruction.
KW - Apoptosis
KW - Autoimmune disorders
KW - BH3-only proteins
KW - Cancer
KW - Caspase
KW - Programmed cell death
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85043254834&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85043254834&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/B978-0-12-374984-0.00143-1
DO - 10.1016/B978-0-12-374984-0.00143-1
M3 - Chapter
AN - SCOPUS:85043254834
SN - 9780123749840
SP - 310
EP - 312
BT - Brenner's Encyclopedia of Genetics
PB - Elsevier Inc.
ER -