BAD, BBC6, BCL2L8, Bcl2 antagonist of cell death, BAD, Bcl-2-binding component 6, Bcl-2-like protein 8, Bcl2-L-8, Bcl-XL/Bcl-2-associated death promoter
BCL2 associated agonist of cell death encoded by BAD is a member of the BCL-2 family. BCL-2 family members are known to be regulators of programmed cell death. BCL2 associated agonist of cell death positively regulates cell apoptosis by forming heterodimers with BCL-xL and BCL-2, and reversing their death repressor activity. Proapoptotic activity of BCL2 associated agonist of cell death is regulated through its phosphorylation. Protein kinases AKT and MAP kinase, as well as protein phosphatase calcineurin were found to be involved in the regulation of BCL2 associated agonist of cell death. Alternative splicing of BAD results in two transcript variants which encode the same isoform.
