Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38696533›Full record

ArticlePLoS biology2024

Key residues in the VDAC2-BAK complex can be targeted to modulate apoptosis.

Zheng Yuan, Mark F van Delft, Mark Xiang Li, Fransisca Sumardy, Brian J Smith, David C S Huang, Guillaume Lessene, Yelena Khakam, Ruitao Jin, Sitong He and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS biology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. VDAC2: an emerging pivotal and multifaceted regulator in tumor biology.Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death · 2026
    Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Zheng YuanWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia.
Mark F van DelftWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia.
Mark Xiang LiPeter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia.
Fransisca SumardyWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia.
Brian J SmithLa Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
David C S HuangWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia.
Guillaume LesseneWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia.
Yelena KhakamWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia.
Ruitao JinLa Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
Sitong HeLa Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
Nicholas A SmithLa Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
Richard W BirkinshawWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-1825-0182
Peter E CzabotarWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia.
Grant DewsonWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-4251-8898

Funding

Australian Government Independent Research Institute Infrastructure Support SchemeNational Health and Medical Research CouncilVictorian State Government Operational Infrastructure Support, Australia
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BAK and BAX execute intrinsic apoptosis by permeabilising the mitochondrial outer membrane. Their activity is regulated through interactions with pro-survival BCL-2 family proteins and with non-BCL-2 proteins including the mitochondrial channel protein VDAC2. VDAC2 is important for bringing both BAK and BAX to mitochondria where they execute their apoptotic function. Despite this important function in apoptosis, while interactions with pro-survival family members are well characterised and have culminated in the development of drugs that target these interfaces to induce cancer cell apoptosis, the interaction between BAK and VDAC2 remains largely undefined. Deep scanning mutagenesis coupled with cysteine linkage identified key residues in the interaction between BAK and VDAC2. Obstructive labelling of specific residues in the BH3 domain or hydrophobic groove of BAK disrupted this interaction. Conversely, mutating specific residues in a cytosol-exposed region of VDAC2 stabilised the interaction with BAK and inhibited BAK apoptotic activity. Thus, this VDAC2-BAK interaction site can potentially be targeted to either inhibit BAK-mediated apoptosis in scenarios where excessive apoptosis contributes to disease or to promote BAK-mediated apoptosis for cancer therapy.

Indexed as

Apoptosisbcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer ProteinVoltage-Dependent Anion Channel 2AnimalsHEK293 CellsHumansMitochondriaProtein BindingBAK1 protein, humanbcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer ProteinVDAC2 protein, humanVoltage-Dependent Anion Channel 2

Identifiers

PMID38696533
PMCPMC11098506

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.