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  • Bok is a genuine multi-BH-domain protein that triggers apoptosis in the absence of Bax and Bak.

Bok is a genuine multi-BH-domain protein that triggers apoptosis in the absence of Bax and Bak.

Journal of cell science (2016-04-15)
Stephanie Einsele-Scholz, Silke Malmsheimer, Katrin Bertram, Daniel Stehle, Janina Johänning, Marianne Manz, Peter T Daniel, Bernhard F Gillissen, Klaus Schulze-Osthoff, Frank Essmann
ABSTRACT

The pro-apoptotic multidomain Bcl-2 proteins Bax and Bak (also known as BAK1) are considered the gatekeepers of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis by triggering the mitochondrial release of cytochrome c The role of the third Bax- and Bak-homologous multidomain protein Bok, however, is still unresolved. As cells doubly deficient for Bax and Bak are largely resistant to various apoptotic stimuli, it has been proposed that Bok is either dispensable for apoptosis or that its role is dependent on Bax and Bak. Here, we demonstrate, in several cell systems, that Bok efficiently induces cytochrome c release and apoptosis even in the complete absence of both Bak and Bax. Moreover, modulation of endogenous Bok levels affects the apoptosis response. By RNA interference and targeted deletion of the Bok gene, we demonstrate that Bok can significantly influence the apoptotic response to chemotherapeutic drugs in ovarian carcinoma cells. Hence, our results not only establish Bok as a Bak- and Bax-independent apoptosis inducer, but also suggest a potential impact of Bok expression in ovarian cancer therapy.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-Bak Antibody, NT, Upstate®, from rabbit
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