Physiological restraint of Bak by Bcl-xL is essential for cell survival

• Published in: Genes & development Vol. 30; no. 10; pp. 1240 - 1250
• Main Authors: Lee, Erinna F, Grabow, Stephanie, Chappaz, Stephane, Dewson, Grant, Hockings, Colin, Kluck, Ruth M, Debrincat, Marlyse A, Gray, Daniel H, Witkowski, Matthew T, Evangelista, Marco, Pettikiriarachchi, Anne, Bouillet, Philippe, Lane, Rachael M, Czabotar, Peter E, Colman, Peter M, Smith, Brian J, Kile, Benjamin T, Fairlie, W Douglas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 15-05-2016
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Apoptosis - drug effects; Apoptosis - genetics; bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein - genetics; bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein - metabolism; bcl-X Protein - metabolism; Blood Platelets - cytology; Blood Platelets - drug effects; Blood Platelets - metabolism; Cell Line; Cell Survival - genetics; Humans; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mutation; Protein Binding; Protein Conformation; Protein Domains - genetics; Research Paper; T-Lymphocytes - cytology; T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Bcl-2; apoptosis; Bcl-xL; BH3; Bak
• ISSN: 0890-9369; 1549-5477
• DOI: 10.1101/gad.279414.116

Due to the myriad interactions between prosurvival and proapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins, establishing the mechanisms that regulate the intrinsic apoptotic pathway has proven challenging. Mechanistic insights have primarily been gleaned from in vitro studies because genetic approaches in mammals that produce unambiguous data are difficult to design. Here we describe a mutation in mouse and human Bak that specifically disrupts its interaction with the prosurvival protein Bcl-xL Substitution of Glu75 in mBak (hBAK Q77) for leucine does not affect the three-dimensional structure of Bak or killing activity but reduces its affinity for Bcl-xL via loss of a single hydrogen bond. Using this mutant, we investigated the requirement for physical restraint of Bak by Bcl-xL in apoptotic regulation. In vitro, Bak(Q75L) cells were significantly more sensitive to various apoptotic stimuli. In vivo, loss of Bcl-xL binding to Bak led to significant defects in T-cell and blood platelet survival. Thus, we provide the first definitive in vivo evidence that prosurvival proteins maintain cellular viability by interacting with and inhibiting Bak.