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Science 26 November 1999:
Vol. 286. no. 5445, p. 1645
DOI: 10.1126/science.286.5445.1645i
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Proteins of the Bcl-2 family play both roles in apoptosis, either promoting or inhibiting cell death. The smaller proteins that contain only the third Bcl-2 homology domain (BH3-only proteins, such as Bim) are thought to have pro-death properties, but their role in normal apoptotic functions in vivo, such as homeostasis and immune function, has been unclear. Bouillet et al. (p. 1735) now report results for a gene-targeted Bim-deficient mouse which show that this BH3-only protein is critical for normal homeostasis of white blood cells, cytokine withdrawal, and calcium-induced apoptosis and also acts as a barrier against autoimmune disease. Thus, Bim is a part of the physiological apoptosis machinery.




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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)