BCL-2 family proteins as regulators of mitochondria metabolism.

Atan Gross

Journal: Biochimica et biophysica acta 2016;1857(8):1243-1246

PMID: 26827940

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Abstract

The BCL-2 family proteins are major regulators of apoptosis, and one of their major sites of action are the mitochondria. Mitochondria are the cellular hubs for metabolism and indeed selected BCL-2 family proteins also possess roles related to mitochondria metabolism and dynamics. Here we discuss the link between mitochondrial metabolism/dynamics and the fate of stem cells, with an emphasis on the role of the BID-MTCH2 pair in regulating this link. We also discuss the possibility that BCL-2 family proteins act as metabolic sensors/messengers coming on and off of mitochondria to "sample" the cytosol and provide the mitochondria with up-to-date metabolic information. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'EBEC 2016: 19th European Bioenergetics Conference, Riva del Garda, Italy, July 2-6, 2016', edited by Prof. Paolo Bernardi.

Address: Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2016.01.017