Bcl2 Associated Athanogene 5 (BAG5)

BAG5 is a member of the BAG1-related protein family. BAG1 is an anti-apoptotic protein that functions through interactions with a variety of cell apoptosis and growth related proteins including BCL-2, Raf-protein kinase, steroid hormone receptors, growth factor receptors and members of the heat shock protein 70 kDa family. This protein contains a BAG domain near the C-terminus, which could bind and inhibit the chaperone activity of Hsc70/Hsp70. Bag5 inhibited both Hsp70-mediated refolding of misfolded proteins and parkin E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, and enhanced the sequestration of parkin in protein aggregates. In rats, overexpression of Bag5 resulted in increased death of dopaminergic neurons compared to controls, whereas overexpression of an inhibitory mutant Bag5 resulted in increased dopaminergic survival.