The invention relates generally to compositions of and methods for obtaining
and using a polypeptide other than BCL-2 that affects programmed vertebrate cell
death. The invention relates as well to polynucleotides encoding those polypeptides,
recombinant vectors carrying those sequences, the recombinant host cells including
either the sequences or vectors, and recombinant polypeptides. The invention further
provides methods for using the isolated, recombinant polypeptides in assays designed
to select and improve substances capable of altering programmed cell death for
use in diagnostic, drug design and therapeutic applications.
