Bax inhibitor peptide V5 is an inhibitor of Bax. It decreases levels of the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax, Bad, and NF-ĸB p65 and increases levels of the anti-apoptotic proteins X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) and Bcl-2 in isolated mouse pancreatic islets when used at a concentration of 100 μM. It inhibits apoptosis induced by etoposide in Hep3B human hepatoma cells when used at a concentration of 200 μM. Bax inhibitor peptide V5 (5 mg/ml, i.c.v.) decreases infarct volume and reduces ipsilateral paw preference in the cylinder rearing test, indicating an improvement in sensorimotor function, in a neonatal mouse model of hypoxic-ischemia brain injury induced by carotid artery ligation. Bax inhibitor peptide V5, when used at a concentration of 100 μM in syngeneic pancreatic islet cells prior to transplantation, inhibits increases in blood glucose levels in an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test and increases survival in a mouse model of diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ; ).
BAX Inhibiting Peptide V5 protects Bax against conformational changes and it also prevents mitochondrial translocation. In vitro analysis prove that peptide V5 prevents apoptosis, mediated by a number of agents including staurosporine, ultraviolet and anti-cancer drug.
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