Abstract
Anti- and pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members regulate the mitochondrial phase of apoptotic cell death. The mitochondrial targeting mechanisms of Bcl-2 family proteins are tightly regulated. Known outer mitochondrial membrane targeting sequences include the C-terminal tail and central helical hairpin. Bcl-xL also localizes to the inner mitochondrial membrane, but these targeting sequences are unknown. Here we investigate the possibility that the N-terminus of Bcl-xL also contains mitochondrial targeting information. Amino acid residues 1-28 of Bcl-xL fused to EGFP are sufficient to target mitochondria. Although positive charges and helical propensity are required for targeting, similar to import sequences the N-terminus is not sufficient for efficient mitochondrial import.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 119-124 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Mitochondrion |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2013 |
Keywords
- Apoptosis
- BH4
- Bcl-2
- Bcl-x
- Localization
- Mitochondrial inner membrane
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Medicine
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology