A marker of cell death

The BCL-2 family is a core protein community that controls cell death by regulating the process of mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization. Exchange of interacting partners within the BCL-2 family proteins is the pivotal mechanism that determines the cell’s fate. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network among the BCL-2 family proteins can reflect the status of death signals carried by the BCL-2 family proteins.