Bak

Bcl-2 family members play a pivotal role in the intrinsic (mitochondrial) pathway of apoptosis. The “founding” protein, Bcl-2, was first discovered in human B cell follicular lymphoma cells carrying the t(14; 18) chromosomal translocation. Most lymphomas of this type have the breakpoint located in the Bcl-2 gene. Over-expression of this protein was later discovered to prolong cell survival by blocking apoptosis.