The Bcl-2 Family Proteins: Insights into Their Mechanism of Action and Therapeutic Potential

The Bcl-2 family proteins are critical regulators of apoptosis at the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. During apoptosis, cell fate is determined by complex protein–protein and protein–membrane interactions between the pro- and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members. Commitment to apoptosis is marked by the permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane, a step often considered as the point of no return for the cell. Inhibition of this …