Bcl2 Antagonist/Killer 1 (BAK1)

Bcl-2 homologous antagonist/killer is a protein belongs to the BCL2 protein family. BCL2 family members form oligomers or heterodimers and act as anti- or pro-apoptotic regulators that are involved in a wide variety of cellular activities. This protein localizes to mitochondria, and functions to induce apoptosis. It interacts with and accelerates the opening of the mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel, which leads to a loss in membrane potential and the release of cytochrome c. This protein also interacts with the tumor suppressor P53 after exposure to cell stress.Recently, one study of the role of genetics in abdominal aortic aneurism (AAA) showed that different BAK1 variants can exist in both diseased and nondiseased AA tissues compared to matching blood samples.