Another one bites the dust; ARTS enables degradation of Bcl-2 by XIAP

ABSTRACT

ARTS (Sept4_i2) is a pro-apoptotic mitochondrial tumor suppressor protein which binds to and causes degradation of XIAP (X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis). We recently showed that ARTS brings XIAP into close proximity to Bcl-2, creating a complex which enables degradation of both these major anti-apoptotic proteins and promotes apoptosis. The possible therapeutic implications are discussed here.

KEYWORDS:

• Apoptosis
• Mitochondria
• Bcl-2, XIAP
• Caspases
• Ubiquitin
• Protein degradation
• E3-ligase