BCL-2

gene

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Last updated

July 16, 2026

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The BCL-2 gene is a proto-oncogene that codes for a protein that blocks apoptosis, or programmed cell death. Apoptosis is a natural process where cells self-destruct when damaged or deregulated.12

Normally, the body uses apoptosis to eliminate harmful cells, such as cancer cells. However, some cancer cells can evade apoptosis. Mutations in the BCL-2 gene can lead to excessive production of the BCL-2 protein, preventing the cell from undergoing apoptosis. This blockage of cell suicide is believed to be a key factor in tumor development and can also make cancers resistant to therapies that rely on inducing apoptosis.21

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cancer
Apoptosis and cancer development
…mutation affects a proto-oncogene called BCL-2, which codes for a protein that blocks cell suicide. When mutated, the BCL-2 gene produces excessive amounts of the BCL-2 protein, which prevents the apoptosis program from being activated. Malignant lymphomas that stem from B lymphocytes exhibit this BCL-2 behavior. The alteration of the…
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…mutation affects a proto-oncogene called BCL-2, which codes for a protein that blocks cell suicide. When mutated, the BCL-2 gene produces excessive amounts of the BCL-2 protein, which prevents the apoptosis program from being activated. Malignant lymphomas that stem from B lymphocytes exhibit this BCL-2 behavior. The alteration of the…
Read More