MOLECULES IN FOCUS - BAX - THE PRO-APOPTOTIC BCL-2 FAMILY MEMBER, BAX

Pax is a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family of genes which regul ate programmed cell death. The Pax protein shares highly conserved dom ains with Bcl-2, some of which are required for the formation of Bax-B cl-2 heterodimers. Bar expression is elevated in certain tissues after apoptotic stimuli and can be directly regulated by p53. Bax -/- mice have increased numbers of lymphoid cells and bax -/- neurons survive i n culture following nerve growth factor deprivation. Bar can accelerat e cell cycle entry in T-cells and has recently been shown to have a tu mour suppressor function as well as carrying mutations in certain canc ers. Bar can form ion-conducting channels in planar lipid bilayers whi ch may be the biochemical mechanism through which it exerts its multip le effects. Pharmacological manipulation of Bar has implications for m any diseases involving apoptosis such as cancer or neurodegenerative d isorders. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.