Rabbit polyclonal antibody to BCL2A1

The Bcl~2~related protein A1 (Bfl~1, BCL2A1) is an anti~apoptotic member of the Bcl~2 family originally cloned from mouse bone marrow as a granulocyte macrophage~colony stimulating factor (GM~CSF)~inducible gene. Expression of A1/Bfl~1 is primarily restricted to hematopoietic cells, although it has been detected in some non~hematopoietic tissues including lung and in endothelial cells. A1/Bfl~1 protein is rapidly induced by NF~κB and is elevated in response to a variety of factors that stimulate this pathway, including TNF~α and IL~1β, CD40, phorbol ester, and LPS. As with other Bcl~2 family proteins, A1/Bfl~1 functions by binding and antagonizing pro~apoptotic members of the family (Bid, Bim), which inhibits release of mitochondrial cytochrome c. In contrast, research studies indicate that the enzyme calpain cleaves A1/Bfl~1 at specific sites within the amino~terminal region, creating pro~apoptotic, carboxy~terminal fragments that promote mitochondrial release of cytochrome c and apoptosis. Studies suggest a possible therapeutic strategy of targeting apoptosis through use of the specific A1/Bfl~1 cleavage fragments.