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Characterizing Bcl-2 Family Protein Conformation and Oligomerization Using Cross-Linking and Antibody Gel-Shift in Conjunction with Native PAGE

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1419))

Abstract

The Bcl-2 family of proteins tightly controls the intrinsic or mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. This family is subdivided based on function into pro-survival proteins (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bcl-w, Mcl-1, Bfl-1/A1) and pro-apoptotic proteins. The pro-apoptotic subset is further divided into those proteins that initiate the pathway, the BH3-only proteins (including Bim, Puma, Noxa, and Bid), and those that execute the pathway, Bak and Bax. Whether a cell lives or dies in response to apoptotic stress is determined by the interactions of the Bcl-2 family, which is in turn influenced by their conformation. We describe here a protocol to interrogate the interactions and conformation of the Bcl-2 family of proteins under native conditions.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (637335), Australian Research Council (FT100100791), and was made possible through Victorian State Government Operational Infrastructure Support and Australian Government NHMRC IRIISS 9000220.

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Correspondence to Grant Dewson .

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Dewson, G. (2016). Characterizing Bcl-2 Family Protein Conformation and Oligomerization Using Cross-Linking and Antibody Gel-Shift in Conjunction with Native PAGE. In: Puthalakath, H., Hawkins, C. (eds) Programmed Cell Death. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1419. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3581-9_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3581-9_14

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-3579-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-3581-9

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