BAX Mouse Monoclonal Antibody [3-D2]

Function

BAX is a member of the Bcl-2 gene family. Apoptosis regulator BAX promotes apoptosis by binding to and antagonizing the Bcl-2 protein. In healthy mammalian cells, the majority of BAX is found in the cytosol, but upon initiation of apoptotic signaling, Bax undergoes a conformational shift. Upon induction of apoptosis, BAX becomes organelle membrane-associated, and in particular, mitochondrial membrane associated. The expression of BAX is upregulated by the tumor suppressor protein p53, and BAX has been shown to be involved in p53-mediated apoptosis. The p53 protein is a transcription factor that, when activated as part of the cell's response to stress, regulates many downstream target genes, including BAX.

Background References

1. "Elucidation of some Bax conformational changes through crystallization of an antibody-peptide complex." Peyerl F.W., Dai S., Murphy G.A., Crawford F., White J., Marrack P., Kappler J.W. Cell Death Differ. 14:447-452(2006)

2. "BAX activation is initiated at a novel interaction site." Gavathiotis E., Suzuki M., Davis M.L., Pitter K., Bird G.H., Katz S.G., Tu H.C., Kim H., Cheng E.H., Tjandra N., Walensky L.D. Nature 455:1076-1081(2007)

3. "Mutation to Bax beyond the BH3 domain disrupts interactions with pro-survival proteins and promotes apoptosis." Czabotar P.E., Lee E.F., Thompson G.V., Wardak A.Z., Fairlie W.D., Colman P.M. J. Biol. Chem. 286:7123-7131(2010)

Sequence Similarity

Belongs to the Bcl-2 family.

Tissue Specificity

Expressed in a wide variety of tissues. Isoform Psi is found in glial tumors. Isoform Alpha is expressed in spleen, breast, ovary, testis, colon and brain, and at low levels in skin and lung. Isoform Sigma is expressed in spleen, breast, ovary, testis, lung, colon, brain and at low levels in skin. Isoform Alpha and isoform Sigma are expressed in pro-myelocytic leukemia, histiocytic lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, T-cell lymphoma, lymphoblastic leukemia, breast adenocarcinoma, ovary adenocarcinoma, prostate carcinoma, prostate adenocarcinoma, lung carcinoma, epidermoid carcinoma, small cell lung carcinoma and colon adenocarcinoma cell lines.

Subcellular Location

Mitochondrion membrane, cytoplasm

UNIPROT

SwissProt: Q07812 Human

SwissProt: Q07813 Mouse

Synonyms