Minimalist Model Systems Reveal Similarities and Differences between Membrane Interaction Modes of MCL1 and BAK.

ABSTRACT: Proteins belonging to the BCL2 family are key modulators of apoptosis that establish a complex network of interactions among themselves and with other cellular factors to regulate cell fate. It is well established that mitochondrial membranes are the main locus of action of all BCL2 family proteins, but it is difficult to obtain a precise view of how BCL2 family members operate at the native mitochondrial membrane environment during apoptosis. Here, we used minimalist model systems and multiple fluorescence-based techniques to examine selected membrane activities of MCL1 and BAK under apoptotic-like conditions. We show that three distinct apoptosis-related factors (i.e. the BCL2 homology 3 ligand cBID, the mitochondrion-specific lipid cardiolipin, and membrane geometrical curvature) all pr

SUBMITTER: Landeta O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4505444 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature