Bcl-2-associated death promoter

The Bcl-2-associated death promoter (BAD) is_associated_with::protein is a pro-apoptotic member of the is_associated_with::Bcl-2 gene family which is involved in initiating is_associated_with::apoptosis. BAD is a member of the is_associated_with::BH3-only family , a subfamily of the Bcl-2 family. It does not contain a is_associated_with::C-terminal transmembrane domain for outer is_associated_with::mitochondrial membrane and is_associated_with::nuclear envelope targeting, unlike most other members of the Bcl-2 family. After activation, it is able to form a is_associated_with::heterodimer with anti-apoptotic proteins and prevent them from stopping apoptosis.

Mechanism of action
Bax/Bak are believed to initiate apoptosis by forming a pore in the mitochondrial outer membrane that allows is_associated_with::cytochrome c to escape into the cytoplasm and activate the pro-apoptotic caspase cascade. The anti-apoptotic is_associated_with::Bcl-2 and is_associated_with::Bcl-xL proteins inhibit cytochrome c release through the mitochondrial pore and also inhibit activation of the cytoplasmic caspase cascade by cytochrome c.

Dephosphorylated BAD forms a heterodimer with is_associated_with::Bcl-2 and is_associated_with::Bcl-xL, inactivating them and thus allowing Bax/Bak-triggered apoptosis. When BAD is phosphorylated by Akt/protein kinase B (triggered by PIP3), it forms the BAD-(is_associated_with::14-3-3)protein heterodimer. This leaves is_associated_with::Bcl-2 free to inhibit Bax-triggered apoptosis. BAD phosphorylation is thus anti-apoptotic, and BAD dephosphorylation (e.g., by Ca2+-stimulated is_associated_with::Calcineurin) is pro-apoptotic. The latter may be involved in neural diseases such as schizophrenia.

Interactions
Bcl-2-associated death promoter has been shown to interact with:


 * BCL2L1,
 * BCL2A1,
 * is_associated_with::BCL2L2,
 * is_associated_with::Bcl-2,
 * is_associated_with::MCL1
 * is_associated_with::S100A10,
 * is_associated_with::YWHAQ, and
 * is_associated_with::YWHAZ.