Induced myeloid leukemia cell differentiation protein Mcl-1 is a protein

Protein

Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...

 that in humans is encoded by the MCL1 gene

Gene

A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...

.

Function

The protein encoded by this gene belongs to the Bcl-2

Bcl-2

Bcl-2 is the founding member of the Bcl-2 family of apoptosis regulator proteins encoded by the BCL2 gene. Bcl-2 derives its name from B-cell lymphoma 2, as it is the second member of a range of proteins initially described in chromosomal translocations involving chromosomes 14 and 18 in...

 family. Alternative splicing occurs at this locus and two transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been identified. The longer gene product (isoform 1) enhances cell survival by inhibiting apoptosis

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death that may occur in multicellular organisms. Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes and death. These changes include blebbing, cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and chromosomal DNA fragmentation...

 while the alternatively spliced shorter gene product (isoform 2) promotes apoptosis and is death-inducing.

Clinical significance

Omacetaxine mepesuccinate, as an investigational treatment for chronic myelogenous leukemia

Chronic myelogenous leukemia

Chronic myelogenous leukemia , also known as chronic granulocytic leukemia , is a cancer of the white blood cells. It is a form of leukemia characterized by the increased and unregulated growth of predominantly myeloid cells in the bone marrow and the accumulation of these cells in the blood...

 (CML), acts by inhibiting synthesis of Mcl-1.

Interactions

MCL1 has been shown to interact

Protein-protein interaction

Protein–protein interactions occur when two or more proteins bind together, often to carry out their biological function. Many of the most important molecular processes in the cell such as DNA replication are carried out by large molecular machines that are built from a large number of protein...

 with BAK1, Noxa

Noxa

Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate-induced protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PMAIP1 gene.Noxa is a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 protein family. Bcl-2 family members can form hetero- or homodimers, and they act as anti- or pro-apoptotic regulators that are involved in a wide...

, BCL2L11

BCL2L11

Bcl-2-like protein 11 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the BCL2L11 gene.-Interactions:BCL2L11 has been shown to interact with DYNLL1, MCL1, BCL2-like 1, BCL2L2 and Bcl-2.-Further reading:...

, Bcl-2-associated death promoter

Bcl-2-associated death promoter

The Bcl-2-associated death promoter protein is a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 gene family which is involved in initiating apoptosis. BAD is a member of the BH3-only family...

, PCNA

PCNA

Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen, commonly known as PCNA, is a protein that acts as a processivity factor for DNA polymerase δ in eukaryotic cells. It achieves this processivity by encircling the DNA, thus creating a topological link to the genome...

, DAD1

DAD1

Dolichyl-diphosphooligosaccharide--protein glycosyltransferase subunit DAD1 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the DAD1 gene.-Further reading:...

, TNKS

TNKS

Tankyrase-1 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the TNKS gene.-Interactions:TNKS has been shown to interact with MCL1, TNKS1BP1, FNBP1 and TERF1.-Further reading:...

 and BH3 interacting domain death agonist

BH3 interacting domain death agonist

The BH3 interacting-domain death agonist, or BID, gene is a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 protein family. Bcl-2 family members share one or more of the four characteristic domains of homology entitled the Bcl-2 homology domains , and can form hetero- or homodimers...

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