PUMA cooperates with direct activator proteins to promote mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization and apoptosis

The BCL-2 family of proteins regulates apoptosis by controlling mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP). Within the family there are numerous protein-protein interactions that influence MOMP; however, defining the ultimate signal that commits a cell to apoptosis remains controversial. We chose to examine the function of the BH3-only protein, p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA), to define its contribution to MOMP and cooperation with the direct activator proteins. PUMA is a potent regulator of MOMP and our data suggest that this function is attributed to two distinct mechanisms which both rely on PUMA binding to the anti-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins: de-repression and sensitization. Here we will define these interactions and discuss our experiments that suggest PUMA cooperates with direct activator proteins to efficiently induce MOMP and apoptosis.