Description
Bcl-2, also known as B-cell lymphoma protein 2 alpha, is an anti-apoptotic protein located primarily in the outer mitochondrial membrane that blocks the apoptotic death of some cells such as lymphocytes. BCL-2 is thought to regulate cell death by controlling the mitochondrial membrane permeability during apotosis. Bcl-2 exerts its anti-apoptotic function through inhibiting caspase activity either by preventing the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria and/or by binding to the apoptosis-activating factor (APAF-1). The Bcl-2 gene has been related with a number of cancers, including melanoma, breast, prostate, and lung carcinomas, as well as schizophrenia and autoimmunity. Recombinant Bcl-2 protein was expressed in E.coli and purified by conventional chromatography, after refolding of the isolated inclusion bodies in a renaturation buffer