The proto-oncogene Bcl-2 expresses proteins that are not a single entity, but a multipotent group with both anti- and pro-apoptotic family members. All the latter share the Bcl-2 homology domain 3 (BH3), but otherwise differ from each other (i.e. Bcl-XS, Bax-BM3, wtBax-BH3, Bad, Bak etc., the number of abbreviations and acronyms is bewildering). When overexpressed, they interact in a non-physiological manner, but very little is known about their particular mechanism of action. Interference with or modulations of these functions are becoming an interesting new target for cancer therapy.
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