Anti-apoptotic proteins function by inhibiting the activity of pro-apoptotic proteins. They achieve this through several mechanisms, including sequestering pro-apoptotic proteins, neutralizing their activity, or regulating the expression of genes involved in apoptosis. Key members of the anti-apoptotic protein family include Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Mcl-1. These proteins are part of the larger Bcl-2 family, which also includes pro-apoptotic members like Bax and Bak.
