The role of Bim, a proapoptotic BH3-only member of the Bcl-2 family, in cell-death control

Abstract

Apoptosis is an evolutionarily conserved process for killing unwanted cells. Genetic and biochemical experiments have indicated that three groups of proteins are necessary for activation of the cell-death effector machinery: cysteine proteases, their adaptors, and proapoptotic Bcl-2 family members. Antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family members are needed for cell survival. We have cloned Bim, a proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member that shares with the family only a 9-16 aa region of homology [Bcl-3 homology region(BH3)], but is otherwise unique. Bim requires its BH3 region for binding to Bcl-2 and activation of apoptosis. Analysis of Bim-deficient mice has shown that Bim is essential for the execution of s..