Bcl2/Adenovirus E1B 19kDa Interacting Protein 3 Like Protein (BNIP3L)

BNIP3L is a member of the BCL2/adenovirus E1B 19 kd-interacting protein (BNIP) family. It interacts with the E1B 19 kDa protein which is responsible for the protection of virally-induced cell death, as well as E1B 19 kDa-like sequences of BCL2, also an apoptotic protector. The protein encoded by this gene is a functional homolog of BNIP3, a proapoptotic protein. This protein may function simultaneously with BNIP3 and may play a role in tumor suppression.

BNIP3L encodes a deduced 219-amino acid protein that contains a predicted transmembrane domain, PEST sequences, and a BH3 domain in the C-terminal region. BNIP3L shares 56% amino acid sequence identity with BNIP3. BNIP3L forms a homodimer because the observed 48-kD protein product is about double the 23.8-kD predicted mass.