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Buffy, a Drosophila Bcl-2 protein, has anti-apoptotic and cell cycle inhibitory functions

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dc.contributor.authorQuinn, L.
dc.contributor.authorCoombe, M.
dc.contributor.authorMills, K.
dc.contributor.authorDaish, T.
dc.contributor.authorColussi, P.
dc.contributor.authorKumar, S.
dc.contributor.authorRichardson, H.
dc.date.issued2003
dc.description© by the European Molecular Biology Organization
dc.description.abstractBcl-2 family proteins are key regulators of apoptosis. Both pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic members of this family are found in mammalian cells, but only the pro-apoptotic protein Debcl has been characterized in Drosophila. Here we report that Buffy, the second Drosophila Bcl-2-like protein, is a pro-survival protein. Ablation of Buffy by RNA interference leads to ectopic apoptosis, whereas overexpression of buffy results in the inhibition of developmental programmed cell death and γ irradiation-induced apoptosis. Buffy interacts genetically and physically with Debcl to suppress Debcl-induced cell death. Genetic interactions suggest that Buffy acts downstream of Rpr, Grim and Hid, and upstream of the apical caspase Dronc. Furthermore, overexpression of buffy inhibits ectopic cell death in diap1 (th5) mutants. Taken together these data suggest that Buffy can act downstream of Rpr, Grim and Hid to block caspase-dependent cell death. Overexpression of Buffy in the embryo results in inhibition of the cell cycle, consistent with a G1/early-S phase arrest. Our data suggest that Buffy is functionally similar to the mammalian pro-survival Bcl-2 family of proteins.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityLeonie Quinn, Michelle Coombe, Kathryn Mills, Tasman Daish, Paul Colussi, Sharad Kumar and Helena Richardson
dc.identifier.citationEMBO Journal, 2003; 22(14):3568-3579
dc.identifier.doi10.1093/emboj/cdg355
dc.identifier.issn0261-4189
dc.identifier.issn1460-2075
dc.identifier.orcidKumar, S. [0000-0001-7126-9814]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/9424
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherOxford Univ Press
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1093/emboj/cdg355
dc.subjectapoptosis, cell survival, Drosophila, programmed cell death, RNA interference, TUNEL
dc.titleBuffy, a Drosophila Bcl-2 protein, has anti-apoptotic and cell cycle inhibitory functions
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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