Apoptosis regulator BAX is a ~21 kDa protein. Plays a role in the mitochondrial apoptotic process. Under normal conditions, BAX is largely cytosolic via constant retrotranslocation from mitochondria to the cytosol mediated by BCL2L1/Bcl-xL, which avoids accumulation of toxic BAX levels at the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM). Under stress conditions, undergoes a conformation change that causes translocation to the mitochondrion membrane, leading to the release of cytochrome c that then triggers apoptosis. Promotes activation of CASP3, and thereby apoptosis. 1. Schmitt, E. et al. (2000) Biochemical and biophysical research communications 270, 868-79. PMID: 107729182. Tan, KO. et al. (2001) The Journal of biological chemistry 276, 2802-7. PMID: 110603133. Zhang, H. et al. (2005) Nature cell biology 7, 909-15. PMID: 161136784. Tan, KO. et al. (2005) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 102, 14623-8. PMID: 161995256. Czabotar, PE. et al. (2011) The Journal of biological chemistry 286, 7123-31. PMID: 211998658. Wei, B. et al. (2015) Journal of virology 89, 3804-18. PMID: 256098129. Choi, HS. et al. (2022) International journal of molecular sciences 23. PMID: 36361894 | 
