Your browser version may not work well with NCBI's Web applications. More information here...
1: Science. 1997 Feb 14;275(5302):983-6.Click here to read Links

Structure of Bcl-xL-Bak peptide complex: recognition between regulators of apoptosis.

Pharmaceutical Discovery Division, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL 60064, USA.

Heterodimerization between members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins is a key event in the regulation of programmed cell death. The molecular basis for heterodimer formation was investigated by determination of the solution structure of a complex between the survival protein Bcl-xL and the death-promoting region of the Bcl-2-related protein Bak. The structure and binding affinities of mutant Bak peptides indicate that the Bak peptide adopts an amphipathic alpha helix that interacts with Bcl-xL through hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Mutations in full-length Bak that disrupt either type of interaction inhibit the ability of Bak to heterodimerize with Bcl-xL.

PMID: 9020082 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Structures reported by this article