Anti-Bcl-2

BCL-2

This purified IgG antibody against Human Bcl-2 has been tested for use in immunofluorescence microscopy and immunoblotting. The antibody recognizes a 27 kDa band corresponding to human bcl-2. Anti-Bcl-2 shows perinuclear staining of Bcl-2. Reactivity in other immunoassays is unknown. Recommended

0. 02 M Potassium Phosphate 0. 15 M Sodium Chloride pH 7. 2

DRYICE Bcl-2 is a human proto-oncogene located chromosome 18. Its product is an integral membrane protein (also called Bcl-2) located in the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) nuclear envelope and in the outer membranes of the mitochondria. The gene was discovered as the translocated locus in a B-cell leukemia (hence the name). This translocation is also found in some B-cell lymphomas. In the cancerous B cells the portion of chromosome 18 containing the BCL-2 locus has undergone a reciprocal translocation with the portion of chromosome 14 containing the antibody heavy chain locus. This t(14; 18) translocation places the BCL-2 gene close to the heavy chain gene enhancer. This enhancer is very active in B cells and therefore results in high levels of Bcl-2 expression in these cells. High levels of the Bcl-2 protein protect the cells from early death by apoptosis. The Bcl-2 protein suppresses apoptosis by preventing the activation of the caspases that carry out the process. It is conceived that introduction of the Bcl-2 gene into the cells of injured tissue will reduce cell death and improve the clinical outcome of the injury

Forms homodimers and heterodimers with BAX BAD BAK and Bcl-X(L). Heterodimerization with BAX requires intact BH1 and BH2 motifs and is necessary for anti-apoptotic activity (By similarity). Also interacts with APAF1 RAF-1 TP53BP2 BBC3 BCL2L1 MRPL41 and BNIPL. Binding to FKBP8 seems to target BCL2 to the mitochondria and probably interferes with the binding of BCL2 to its targets.

Expressed in a variety of tissues.

Phosphorylation/dephosphorylation on Ser-70 regulates anti-apoptotic activity. Growth factor-stimulated phosphorylation on Ser-70 by PKC is required for the anti-apoptosis activity and occurs during the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. In the absence of growth factors BCL2 appears to be phosphorylated by other protein kinases such as ERKs and stress-activated kinases. Dephosphorylated by protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) (By similarity).

A chromosomal aberration involving BCL2 may be a cause of follicular lymphoma (FL) [MIM:151430]; also known as type II chronic lymphatic leukemia. Translocation t(14; 18)(q32; q21) with immunoglobulin gene regions. BCL2 mutations found in non-Hodgkin lymphomas carrying the chromosomal translocation could be attributed to the Ig somatic hypermutation mechanism resulting in nucleotide transitions.