Inhibition of Bcl2 family proteins Bcl-XL and Bcl-2 represents a promising drug development strategy for cancer treatment by triggering apoptosis in cancer cells. Here we report a novel Bcl-XL inhibitor, Z36, which unexpectedly induces only autophagic cell death, but not apoptosis. This special property distinguishes Z36 from other previously reported Bcl-XL and Bcl-2 inhibitors that induce cancer cell death mainly through apoptosis, and makes Z36 an attractive molecular tool for studying the cellular regulation of autophagic cell death and apoptosis.
Authors
Jian Lin
Beijing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Center; College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering; and College of Life Sciences; Peking University; Beijing, China
Zhibin Zheng
Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Beijing, China
Yanjun Li
Beijing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Center; College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering; and College of Life Sciences; Peking University; Beijing, China
Wenyu Yu
Beijing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Center; College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering; and College of Life Sciences; Peking University; Beijing, China
Wu Zhong
Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Beijing, China
Songhai Tian
Beijing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Center; College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering; and College of Life Sciences; Peking University; Beijing, China
Fang Zhao
Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Beijing, China
Xiaobai Ren
Beijing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Center; College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering; and College of Life Sciences; Peking University; Beijing, China
Junhai Xiao
Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Beijing, China
Nan Wang
Beijing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Center; College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering; and College of Life Sciences; Peking University; Beijing, China
Siyang Liu
Beijing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Center; College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering; and College of Life Sciences; Peking University; Beijing, China
Lili Wang
Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Beijing, China
Fugeng Sheng
Department of Radiology; Affiliated Hospital of the Academy of Military Medical Science; Beijing, China
Yingyu Chen
Center for Human Disease Genomics; Peking University; Beijing, China
Changwen Jin
Beijing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Center; College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering; and College of Life Sciences; Peking University; Beijing, China
Beijing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Center; College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering; and College of Life Sciences; Peking University; Beijing, China