该基因编码bcl-2蛋白家族的一个成员。这个家族成员属于BH3唯一的促凋亡亚类。该蛋白与直接激活蛋白协同作用，诱导线粒体外膜通透性和凋亡。它能与抗凋亡的bcl-2家族成员结合，诱导线粒体功能障碍和caspase活化。由于其促凋亡的作用，该基因是肿瘤治疗和组织损伤的潜在药物靶点。选择性剪接导致多个转录变体。[由RefSeq提供，2011年12月]
This gene encodes a member of the BCL-2 family of proteins. This family member belongs to the BH3-only pro-apoptotic subclass. The protein cooperates with direct activator proteins to induce mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization and apoptosis. It can bind to anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members to induce mitochondrial dysfunction and caspase activation. Because of its pro-apoptotic role, this gene is a potential drug target for cancer therapy and for tissue injury. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2011]