BCL2 apoptosis regulator (human) (BCL2)

BCL2 apoptosis regulator (BCL2) is an integral outer mitochondrial membrane protein, encoded by the human *BCL2* gene. Its primary role is to block programmed cell death (apoptosis), facilitating cell survival by inhibiting the release of cytochrome c and reactive oxygen species from mitochondria. The *BCL2* gene is notably involved in B-cell malignancies, such as follicular lymphoma, due to translocations causing overexpression of the BCL2 protein and disruption of the balance between cell death and survival. BCL2 family members include both pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins that regulate the cellular fate in response to various signals. Drugs targeting BCL2 are now approved and under development for multiple cancers, aiming to restore apoptotic potential in tumor cells resistant to cell death.

Other names

B-cell lymphoma 2B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 proteinBCL-2Bcl2 (mouse ortholog)

Inhibition of BCL2 function, releasing pro-apoptotic proteins (e.g., BAX, BAK) to trigger mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization and apoptosis in cancer cells; RNA interference or antisense approaches (if targeting mRNA directly) reduce BCL2 protein synthesis, sensitizing cells to apoptosis