Download MendeleyConformational States of the Cytoprotective Protein Bcl-xL.
Ryzhov, P., Tian, Y., Yao, Y., Bobkov, A.A., Im, W., Marassi, F.M.(2020) Biophys J 119: 1324-1334
- PubMed: 32888404
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2020.08.014
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
6X7I - PubMed Abstract:
Bcl-xL is a major inhibitor of apoptosis, a fundamental homeostatic process of programmed cell death that is highly conserved across evolution. Because it plays prominent roles in cancer, Bcl-xL is a major target for anticancer therapy and for studies aimed at understanding its structure and activity. Although Bcl-xL is active primarily at intracellular membranes, most studies have focused on soluble forms of the protein lacking both the membrane-anchoring C-terminal tail and the intrinsically disordered loop, and this has resulted in a fragmented view of the protein's biological activity. Here, we describe the conformation of full-length Bcl-xL. Using NMR spectroscopy, molecular dynamics simulations, and isothermal titration calorimetry, we show how the three structural elements affect the protein's structure, dynamics, and ligand-binding activity in both its soluble and membrane-anchored states. The combined data provide information about the molecular basis for the protein's functionality and a view of its complex molecular mechanisms.
Organizational Affiliation:
Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California.
