Rabbit polyclonal antibody to Aven (P329)

The Bcl~2 family regulates apoptosis in response to a wide range of stimuli through control of mitochondrial cytochrome c release and caspase activation. Cytosolic Apaf~1 forms a complex with caspase~9 in the presence of cytochrome c and dATP, ultimately leading to caspase~9 activation and subsequent activation of caspase~3. A large number of proteins have been found to interact with Bcl~2 and other family members that have been shown to help regulate apoptosis. Aven was identified in a yeast two~hybrid screen as a bcl~xL interacting protein. It also interacts with other anti~apoptotic family members, including Bcl~2, but fails to interact with pro~apopotic proteins Bax and Bak. Aven inhibits apoptosis and enhances anti~apopotic activity of Bcl~xL. It interferes with association with Apaf~1 and activation of caspase~9. Aven overexpression is associated with poor prognosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.