BAX

Domain

Intact BH3 motif is required by BIK, BID, BAK, BAD and BAX for their pro-apoptotic activity and for their interaction with anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family.

Function

Plays a role in the mitochondrial apoptotic process. Under normal conditions, BAX is largely cytosolic via constant retrotranslocation from mitochondria to the cytosol mediated by BCL2L1/Bcl-xL, which avoids accumulation of toxic BAX levels at the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) (PubMed:21458670). Under stress conditions, undergoes a conformation change that causes translocation to the mitochondrion membrane, leading to the release of cytochrome c that then triggers apoptosis. Promotes activation of CASP3, and thereby apoptosis.

Sequence similarities

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.

Cellular localization

• Isoform Alpha
• Mitochondrion outer membrane
• Single-pass membrane protein
• Cytoplasm
• Colocalizes with 14-3-3 proteins in the cytoplasm. Under stress conditions, undergoes a conformation change that causes release from JNK-phosphorylated 14-3-3 proteins and translocation to the mitochondrion membrane. Upon Sendai virus infection, recruited to the mitochondrion through interaction with IRF3 (PubMed:25609812).
• Isoform Beta
• Cytoplasm
• Isoform Gamma
• Cytoplasm
• Isoform Delta
• Cytoplasm

Alternative names

• Apoptosis regulator BAX
• Bcl-2-like protein 4
• Bcl2-L-4
• BAX
• BCL2L4

Database links

• entrezGene:581
• omim:600040
• swissprot:Q07812

Target type

Proteins

Primary research area

Oncology

Molecular weight

21184Da