Abstract
Members of the Bcl-2 protein family have been implicated as critical intracellular regulators of apoptosis. Most studies of this protein family have utilized transformed and/or transfected cell lines expressing high levels of these proteins. In the current study, we have analyzed normal murine lymphoid cells and tissues and have detected a previously unreported protein of approximately 16 kDa recognized by an anti-Bax Ab. This 16-kDa protein is abundant in hemopoietic tissues of both wild-type and Bax knock-out mice, it can heterodimerize with Bax in normal lymphocytes, and it is dramatically down-modulated in thymocytes in response to apoptotic stimuli. These results suggest that this protein may have antiapoptotic activity and may participate in the regulation of apoptosis in normal lymphocytes.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antibodies / metabolism
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Apoptosis / immunology*
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Carrier Proteins / biosynthesis*
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Carrier Proteins / chemistry*
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Carrier Proteins / immunology
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Dimerization
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Down-Regulation / immunology
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Female
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Inbred Strains
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Mice, Knockout
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Molecular Weight
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / immunology
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism*
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Spleen / cytology
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Spleen / immunology
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Spleen / metabolism*
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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*
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bcl-2-Associated X Protein
Substances
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Antibodies
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Bax protein, mouse
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Carrier Proteins
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
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bcl-2-Associated X Protein