Abstract
The life and death of T cells is controlled to a large extent by the relative amounts of Bcl-2-related proteins they contain. The antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and the proapoptotic protein Bim are particularly important in this process with the amount of Bcl-2 per cell dropping by about one-half when T cells prepare to die. In this study we show that Bcl-2 and Bim each control the expression of the other. Absence of Bim leads to a drop in the amount of intracellular Bcl-2 protein, while having no effect on the amounts of mRNA for Bcl-2. Conversely, high amounts of Bcl-2 per cell allow high amounts of Bim, although in this case the effect involves increases in Bim mRNA. These mutual effects occur even if Bcl-2 is induced acutely. Thus these two proteins control the expression of the other, at either the protein or mRNA level.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / biosynthesis
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Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / deficiency
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Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / genetics
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Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / physiology*
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Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
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Cell Differentiation / immunology
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Cells, Cultured
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Gene Expression Regulation / immunology*
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Humans
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Membrane Proteins / biosynthesis
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Membrane Proteins / deficiency
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Membrane Proteins / genetics
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Membrane Proteins / physiology*
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Knockout
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Mice, Transgenic
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / biosynthesis
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / deficiency
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / antagonists & inhibitors
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / biosynthesis
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / physiology*
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RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
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T-Lymphocytes / cytology
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology
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T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
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Thymus Gland / cytology
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Thymus Gland / immunology
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Thymus Gland / metabolism
Substances
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Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
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BCL2L11 protein, human
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Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
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Bcl2l11 protein, mouse
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Membrane Proteins
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
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RNA, Messenger