The importance of transmembrane domain interactions in the viral control of apoptosis.

Viral control of apoptosis occurs through the expression of viral encoded anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) analogs. These proteins are thought to restrain apoptosis by interacting with cellular BCL2 family members. We identified that protein-protein interactions between cellular and viral BCL2 transmembrane domains are crucial for the viral protein's function.