Progresses in the Signaling Pathways of Apoptosis and Autophagy Mediated by Bcl-2 Protein Family
Xu Guoping1,2, Yang Peng3, Qi Hong1,2*
Autophagy and apoptosis are two prominent processes of self-renewal in mammals. Autophagy often prolongs cell survival, while apoptosis promotes cell death. They play a vital role in tissue homeostasis, development and diseases. Autophagy and apoptosis have intersecting signaling pathways mediated by Bcl-2 protein family, which can control the cell fate and form a complex signal transduction network. Thus, the precise mechanisms of Bcl-2 protein family in regulating autophagy and apoptosis still remain elusive. In this review, we first summarized the molecular mechanisms that Bcl-2 family proteins control apoptosis by modulating not only mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization but also mitochondrial calcium signal. We discussed the pivotal role of the interaction among Bcl-2 family proteins and their involvement in calcium signal in autophagic pathways. Finally, we proposed that Bcl-2 protein family can govern the cell fate by fine-tuning the balance between apoptosis and autophagy.
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