Bax Inhibitor 1 (BI-1) as a conservative regulator of Programmed Cell Death

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a physiological process in which infected or unnecessary cells due to their suicidal death capability can be selectively eliminated. Pro- and antiapoptotic proteins play an important role in the induction or inhibition of this process. Presented article shows property of Bax-1 (BI-1) inhibitor which is one of the conservative protein associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as well as its cytoprotective role in the regulation of cellular processes. It was shown that: 1) BI-1 is a small protein consisting of 237 amino acids (human protein - 36 kDa) and has 6 (in animals) and 7 (in plants) α-helical transmembrane domains, 2) BI-1 is expressed in all organisms and in most tissues, moreover its level depends on the functional condition of cells and it is involved in the development or reaction to biotic and abiotic stresses, 3) BI-1 forms a pH-dependent Ca2+ channel enabling release of these ions from the ER, 4) cytoprotective effects of BI-1 requires a whole, unchanged C-terminus, 5) BI-1 can interact directly with numerous other proteins, BI-1 protein affects numerous cellular processes, including: counteracting ER stress, oxidative stress, loss of cellular Ca2+ homeostasis as well as this protein influences on sphingolipid metabolism, autophagy, actin polymerization, lysosomal activity and cell proliferation. Studies of BI-1 functions will allow understanding the mechanisms of anticancer therapy or increases the knowledge of crop tolerance to environmental stresses.