Anti-Bif-1 (Bax interacting factor-1), clone 4H35

The Bcl-2 family consists of anti-apoptotic (or cell survival) genes, such as Bcl-2, Bcl-XL and pro-apoptotic (or cell death) genes including Bax and BAD. In addition to its anti-apoptotic effect, Bcl-2 also inhibits progression through the cell cycle. Functional interactions between family members as well as binding to other cellular proteins modulate their activities. Bcl-2 family members are important in normal tissue development, homeostasis, and disease states. Bcl-2 prevents cell death by forming heterodimers with Bax and Bad (1). Bax promotes cell death by forming homodimers, which can be blocked by forming heterodimers with Bcl-2 or BCL-XL. Recently, using yeast two-hybrid system Cuddeback et al (2) have identified a cDNA encoding a 365 amino acid protein, which interacts physically with Bax protein and influences cell life and death. Bif-1 contains a Src homology 3 (SH3) domain in the C-terminus. It does not contain any of the conserved Bcl-2 homology (BH) domains of the Bcl-2 family proteins. Human Bif-1 protein shares 96% and 42% identity at the amino acids level with mouse and C. elegans, respectively. Overexpression of Bif-1 in transfected cell lines promotes Bax conformational change, caspase activation, and apoptotic cell death following growth factor withdrawal. Bif-1 RNA is abundantly expressed in heart, skeletal muscle, kidney, and placenta. Applications: This antibody detects Bif-1 by western blot(2). Jurkat cell lysate can be used as positive control. Western blot analysis for Bif-1 at 2ug/ml dilution against 10ug of Jurkat cell lysate. Recommended Dilution: Western blot: 1-2ug/ml, Storage and Stability: May be stored at 4°C for short-term only. For long-term storage and to avoid repeated freezing and thawing, aliquot and add glycerol (40-50%). Freeze at -20°C. Aliquots are stable for at least 12 months at -20°C. For maximum recovery of product, centrifuge the original vial after thawing and prior to removing the cap. Further dilutions can be made in assay buffer. ,