Protein Domain : Influenza A proapoptotic protein PB1-F2 IPR021045

Type	Family
Description	PB1-F2 is a protein found in almost all known strains of Influenza A virus - a negative sense ssRNA Orthomyxovirus [ ]. It originates from translation of the viral polymerase gene in an alternative reading frame []. PB1-F2 consists of two independent structural domains, two closely neighbouring short helices at the N terminus, and an extended C-terminal helix []. Although the protein has originally been described to induce apoptosis, it has now been shown that PB1-F2 more likely acts as an apoptosis promoter in concert with other apoptosis-inducing agents []. PB1-F2 promotes apoptosis by localising to the mitochondria where it destabilises the membrane. This will cause release of cytochrome C which activates the caspase cascade of apoptosis through the endogenous pathway []. In this way it acts like the Bcl-2 protein family which are physiological apoptotic regulators in cells [].
Short Name	Flu_proapoptotic_PB1-F2