Fig. 2

The regulation of apoptosis by the BAX protein through mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP), and the modulation of this key steps by therapeutics. Key negative regulator Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and Mcl1 proteins (solid oval green boxes) for BAX (solid orange box) and their apoptosis inducing effects by cytochrome c release (solid yellow box and circles), caspase protein activation (solid red box) and apoptosis (solid purple box) are shown. The mimetics/inhibitors that can target anti−/pro-apoptotic protein interactions are highlighted as BH3-mimetics (outlined red box, red dots) and Mcl1 inhibitors (outlined green box, green dots), which either induce apoptosis of cells as mono-therapeutics or sensitize them to such effects during combined therapeutic targeting. The blue solid boxes (and small circles) highlight mitochondrial Smac/DIABLO, NOXA and PUMA, which bind the Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (small green circles, IAPs) and the interactions of which can be inhibited by Smac-mimetics (blue outlined box and blue dots)