biostudies-literatureAouacheria ANINDS NIH HHSNIGMS NIH HHS103-11https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC3582728biostudies-literatureUnknown23(3)Bcl-2 family proteins regulate apoptosis in animals. This protein family includes several homologous proteins and a collection of other proteins lacking sequence similarity except for a Bcl-2 homology (BH)3 motif. Thus, membership in the Bcl-2 family requires only one of the four BH motifs. On this basis, a growing number of diverse BH3-only proteins are being reported. Although compelling cell biological and biophysical evidence validates many BH3-only proteins, claims of significant BH3 sequence similarity are often unfounded. Computational and phylogenetic analyses suggest that only some BH3 motifs arose by divergent evolution from a common ancestor (homology), whereas others arose by convergent evolution or random coincidence (homoplasy), challenging current assumptions about which proteins constitute the extended Bcl-2 family.Trends in cell biologyEvolution of Bcl-2 homology motifs: homology versus homoplasy.PMC3582728R01 NS037402R01 NS37402R01 GM077875Combet CAouacheria AHardwick JMRech de Laval VfalseEvolution of Bcl-2 homology motifs: homology versus homoplasy.Bcl-2 family proteins regulate apoptosis in animals. This protein family includes several homologous proteins and a collection of other proteins lacking sequence similarity except for a Bcl-2 homology (BH)3 motif. Thus, membership in the Bcl-2 family requires only one of the four BH motifs. On this basis, a growing number of diverse BH3-only proteins are being reported. Although compelling cell biological and biophysical evidence validates many BH3-only proteins, claims of significant BH3 sequence similarity are often unfounded. Computational and phylogenetic analyses suggest that only some BH3 motifs arose by divergent evolution from a common ancestor (homology), whereas others arose by convergent evolution or random coincidence (homoplasy), challenging current assumptions about which proteins constitute the extended Bcl-2 family.2013-01-01T00:00:00Z2013 Mar2024-11-20T22:24:23.493Z2019-03-27T01:05:18ZS-EPMC35827282319998210.1016/j.tcb.2012.10.010