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  • Title: Novel dimerization mode of the human Bcl-2 family protein Bak, a mitochondrial apoptosis regulator.
    Author: Wang H, Takemoto C, Akasaka R, Uchikubo-Kamo T, Kishishita S, Murayama K, Terada T, Chen L, Liu ZJ, Wang BC, Sugano S, Tanaka A, Inoue M, Kigawa T, Shirouzu M, Yokoyama S.
    Journal: J Struct Biol; 2009 Apr; 166(1):32-7. PubMed ID: 19135534.
    Abstract:
    Interactions of Bcl-2 family proteins play a regulatory role in mitochondrial apoptosis. The pro-apoptotic protein Bak resides in the outer mitochondrial membrane, and the formation of Bak homo- or heterodimers is involved in the regulation of apoptosis. The previously reported structure of the human Bak protein (residues Glu16-Gly186) revealed that a zinc ion was coordinated with two pairs of Asp160 and His164 residues from the symmetry-related molecules. This zinc-dependent homodimer was regarded as an anti-apoptotic dimer. In the present study, we determined the crystal structure of the human Bak residues Ser23-Asn185 at 2.5A, and found a distinct type of homodimerization through Cys166 disulfide bridging between the symmetry-related molecules. In the two modes of homodimerization, the molecular interfaces are completely different. In the membrane-targeted model of the S-S bridged dimer, the BH3 motifs are too close to the membrane to interact directly with the anti-apoptotic relatives, such as Bcl-x(L). Therefore, the Bak dimer structure reported here may represent a pro-apoptotic mode under oxidized conditions.
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