Nature Communications (Aug 2021)

The conformational stability of pro-apoptotic BAX is dictated by discrete residues of the protein core

  • Noah B. Bloch,
  • Thomas E. Wales,
  • Michelle S. Prew,
  • Hannah R. Levy,
  • John R. Engen,
  • Loren D. Walensky

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25200-7
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 12

Abstract

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The pro-apoptotic BAX protein is a monomer under homeostatic conditions and, in response to stress, transforms into oligomers that induce apoptosis. Here, the authors characterize structural features of BAX that individually stabilize the monomer while collectively contributing to oligomerization.