The Bcl2a1 gene cluster finally knocked out: first clues to understanding the enigmatic role of the Bcl-2 protein A1

A tightly controlled balance between cell survival and cell death assures correct development and normal physiology of multicellular organisms. Members of the Bcl-2 family that regulate apoptosis often control this decision between cell death and survival. The generation of gene-deficient mice has greatly aided our understanding of the function of most individual Bcl-2 family members. However, a function for Bcl2A1 (A1) has been elusive until the Herold group recently generated A1-deficient mice, filling a long-awaited gap. Their initial characterization is now reported in two papers in this issue of Cell Death & Differentiation.1,