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Buffy, a Drosophila Bcl‐2 protein, has anti‐apoptotic and cell cycle inhibitory functions
Author(s) -
Quinn Leonie,
Coombe Michelle,
Mills Kathryn,
Daish Tasman,
Colussi Paul,
Kumar Sharad,
Richardson Helena
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1093/emboj/cdg355
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , programmed cell death , ectopic expression , buffy coat , apoptosis , caspase , cell cycle , cell culture , genetics , immunology
Bcl‐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 ( th 5 ) 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 G 1 /early‐S phase arrest. Our data suggest that Buffy is functionally similar to the mammalian pro‐survival Bcl‐2 family of proteins.