Cited by 3,720Cell death mechanisms and regulationCancer-related Molecular PathwaysMitochondrial Function and Pathology

Bcl-2 is an inner mitochondrial membrane protein that blocks programmed cell death

Hockenbery, David, Nuñez, Gabriel, Milliman, Curt, Schreiber, Robert D., Korsmeyer, Stanley J.·1990·Nature

Abstract

The t(14; 18) chromosomal translocation of human follicular B-cell lymphoma juxtaposes the bcl-2 gene with the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus. The bcl-2 immunoglobulin fusion gene is markedly deregulated resulting in inappropriately elevated levels of bcl-2 RNA and protein. Transgenic mice bearing a bcl-2 immunoglobulin minigene demonstrate a polyclonal expansion of resting yet responsive IgM-IgD B cells which display prolonged cell survival but no increase in cell cycling. Moreover, deregulated bcl-2 extends the survival of certain haematopoietic cell lines following growth-factor deprivation. By using immunolocalization studies we now demonstrate that Bcl-2 is an integral inner mitochondrial membrane protein of relative molecular mass 25,000 (25k). Overexpression of Bcl-2 blocks the apoptotic death of a pro-B-lymphocyte cell line. Thus, Bcl-2 is unique among proto-oncogenes, being localized to mitochondria and interfering with programmed cell death independent of promoting cell division.

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Crossref · 10.1038/348334a0

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Authors
Hockenbery, D., Nuñez, G., Milliman, C., Schreiber, R. D., & Korsmeyer, S. J.
Affiliations
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
Venue
Nature
Published
1990-11
Volume
348
Issue
6299
Pages
334-336
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W2057257609
Cited by
3,720
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 40 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 46 · 2019: 40 · 2018: 47 · 2017: 52 · 2016: 57 · 2015: 51 · 2014: 56 · 2013: 73 · 2012: 76
FWCI
45.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Cell death mechanisms and regulation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer-related Molecular Pathways
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
Keywords
Bcl-2, inner mitochondrial membrane, apoptosis, programmed cell death, follicular B-cell lymphoma, immunoglobulin heavy chain locus, proto-oncogenes, B cell survival, transgenic mice, growth factor deprivation
MeSH terms
Animals, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Base Sequence, Cell Line, Cell Survival, Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14, Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18, Codon, Humans, Lymphoma, Membrane Proteins, Mitochondria, Molecular Sequence Data, Oncogenes, Proto-Oncogene Proteins, Translocation, Genetic, Blotting, Western, Open Reading Frames, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2

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