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Mechanism of Action of the Proapoptotic Gene Bak

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Book cover Apoptosis and Cancer Chemotherapy

Part of the book series: Cancer Drug Discovery and Development ((CDD&D))

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Abstract

The mechanism of action of the proapoptotic gene bak has so far proved to be elusive. Early molecular clues suggested that bak functioned as a competitive inhibitor of protective members of the bc1-2 family. Although this might still be an explanation for the apoptosis induced by overexpression of bak in cells, more recent data suggests that bak may have a role distinct from the other proapoptotic gene, bax. Important questions remain to be answered for bak. In particular, different subcellular compartments are occupied in different cells, suggesting that a general bak function might disrupt the integrity of a number of key organelles.

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Authors
  1. Robin Brown PhD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Research Campaign, Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, UK

    John A. Hickman  & Caroline Dive  & 

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© 1999 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Brown, R. (1999). Mechanism of Action of the Proapoptotic Gene Bak . In: Hickman, J.A., Dive, C. (eds) Apoptosis and Cancer Chemotherapy. Cancer Drug Discovery and Development. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-720-8_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-720-8_10

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61737-165-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-720-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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