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.
Proteina is developing assays that collectively characterize PPIs among the BCL-2 family proteins in specific cancers. Currently, our panel includes more than 30 PPI metrics that reveal unprecedented details of how the BCL-2 PPI network is rewired in each cancer.
We believe our collection of BCL-2 PPI assays can be used for basic studies as target engagement assays or as pharmacodynamic biomarkers. Large-scale PPI data generated from clinical trials will permit development of predictive biomarkers to stratify treatment non-responders/best responders, dramatically increasing the odds of clinical trial success.
