Bax Antibody

Bcl-2 Associated X Protein is a member of the Bcl-2 gene family. The gene encodes a 21-kDa protein whose association with Bcl-2 is believed to play a critical role in regulating apoptosis. It is an apoptosis-inducing protein that participates in cell death during normal development and in various diseases. It resides in an inactive state in the cytosol of many cells. Bax consists of 9 alpha helices and has extensive amino acid homology with Bcl-2, focused within highly conserved domains I and II. The protein is encoded by six exons and demonstrates a complex pattern of alternative RNA splicing that predicts a 21 kd membrane (alpha) and two forms of cytosolic protein (beta and gamma) . Bax and Bak are essential for regulating the number of B cells at both immature and mature developmental stages. They are critical mediators of B cell death induced by multiple stimuli.