A Review on Structures and Functions of Bcl-2 Family Proteins from Homo sapiens

Protein Pept Lett. 2016;23(10):932-941. doi: 10.2174/0929866523666160719094636.

Abstract

Cancer cells evade apoptosis, which is regulated by proteins of Bcl-2 family in the intrinsic pathways. Numerous experimental three-dimensional (3D) structures of the apoptotic proteins and the proteins bound with small chemical molecules/peptides/proteins have been reported in the literature. In this review article, the 3D structures of the Bcl-2 family proteins from Homo sapiens and as well complex structures of the anti-apoptotic proteins bound with small molecular inhibitors reported in the literature to date have been comprehensively listed out and described in detail. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms by which the Bcl-2 family proteins modulate the apoptotic processes and strategies for designing antagonists to anti-apoptotic proteins have been concisely discussed.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • Humans
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / chemistry*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / physiology*

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2