Bcl2 Related Ovarian Killer Protein (BOK)

BOK belongs to the BCL-2 protein family. BCL-2 family members form hetero- or homodimers and act as anti- and pro-apoptotic regulators that are involved in a wide variety of cellular activities. This protein contains all four BCL-2 like domains (BH1, 2, 3 and 4) and is a pro-apoptotic BCL-2 protein identified in the ovary.

The deduced 213-amino acid BOK protein contains 2 potential phosphorylation sites near the N terminus; conserved BCL2 homology (BH)-1, -2, and -3 domains but not the antiapoptotic BH4 domain; and a C-terminal transmembrane domain. Yeast 2-hybrid analysis determined that BOK interacts strongly with only some antiapoptotic BCL2 proteins and not at all with proapoptotic BCL2 proteins .