BAG1 polyclonal antibody

The Bcl-2 family of proteins is characterized by its ability to modulate cell death (apoptosis) under a broad range of physiologic conditions. Bcl-2 and several related proteins function to inhibit apoptosis, while other members of the Bcl-2 family, such as Bax and Bak, enhance cell death under various conditions. For instance, Bcl-xL represses cell death, while its shorter form, Bcl-xS, promotes apoptosis. Dimerization of another member of this family, Bad, with Bcl-xL, results in displacement of Bax from Bcl-xL/Bax complexes and restoration of Bax-mediated apoptosis. A Bcl-2-binding protein, designated Bag-1, lacks significant homology with Bcl-2 or with other Bcl-2-related proteins. Bag-1 appears to function to enhance Bcl-2 protection from cell death, suggesting that Bag-1 represents a new type of anti-cell death gene. This also suggests that certain routes of apoptosis induction, previously ascribed to Bcl-2-independent pathways, may instead reflect a requirement for a combination of Bcl-2 and Bag-1.