MCL-1 (MCL1)

MCL-1 (Myeloid Cell Leukemia 1; gene MCL1) is an anti-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family and the dominant anti-apoptotic regulator of BAK at the mitochondrial outer membrane. It is distinguished from its Bcl-2 family paralogs (BCL-2, BCL-xL, BCL-w) by a uniquely short protein half-life (often cited as ~20–30 minutes in cycling cells; precise figure is source-dependent and not stated in Vogler 2025 unsourced) driven by continuous ubiquitin-proteasome degradation through its N-terminal PEST region. This rapid turnover makes MCL-1 the most dynamically tunable apoptosis rheostat in the family — a cellular sensor that couples the apoptosis decision to ongoing survival signaling. MCL1 is one of the most frequently amplified anti-apoptotic genes in human cancer (TCGA data; unsourced for precise TCGA rank). MCL-1 inhibitors (S63845, AMG-176, AZD-5991) are under clinical investigation as cancer therapeutics but have encountered cardiotoxicity as a dose-limiting concern — mechanistically explained by a cardiomyocyte-specific requirement for MCL-1 survival signaling.

Naming note: No pathway page named mcl-1 exists. The pathway context for MCL-1 is covered under apoptosis-pathway. This page uses “MCL-1” per UniProt convention (MCL1_HUMAN, Q07820); the gene symbol is MCL1.


Identity

FieldValue
UniProtQ07820 (MCL1_HUMAN)
NCBI Gene4170
HGNC6943
EnsemblENSG00000143384
Chromosomal location1q21.2
Protein length350 aa (canonical anti-apoptotic isoform)
MW~37 kDa (37.3 kDa predicted; Kozopas 1993)
Mouse orthologMcl1 (one-to-one; function conserved)
GenAge entrynot confirmed — check HAGR Build 21 needs-canonical-id

Discovery and historical context

MCL1 was identified in 1993 by Kozopas and colleagues during a screen for genes induced during differentiation of the myeloid leukemia cell line ML-1. The name derives from its expression context: Myeloid Cell Leukemia differentiation. Sequence analysis revealed homology to BCL2, immediately placing it in the emerging family of apoptosis regulators 1. At the time, BCL-2 was the only known anti-apoptotic family member; MCL-1 was the first identified paralog with a distinct N-terminal extension and rapid turnover properties that set it apart.

The short protein half-life — among the shortest documented for any human protein — became appreciated as MCL-1’s defining biophysical feature. Unlike BCL-2 and BCL-xL, which are stable proteins accumulating to steady-state levels over hours, MCL-1 is constitutively synthesized and degraded on a short cycle (often cited as ~20–30 minutes in the literature; the specific figure is not stated in Vogler 2025 and should be confirmed against primary pulse-chase studies 2 unsourced). This makes MCL-1 levels acutely sensitive to translational arrest, growth factor withdrawal, or genotoxic stress — any insult that shifts the synthesis:degradation balance will rapidly collapse MCL-1 abundance and lower the apoptotic threshold.


Domain architecture and localization

MCL-1 is a multi-domain Bcl-2 family member with an unusually long N-terminal extension that has no homology to other family members and contains the regulatory PEST region:

DomainResidues (approx., UniProt Q07820)Function
Unstructured N-terminal extension1–170Contains PEST-like region (104–175); site of E3-ligase targeting; no known direct apoptosis function — primarily a degradation signal
BH3 domain209–223Present but inaccessible in anti-apoptotic conformation; embedded within folded structure; required for homo- and heterodimerization
BH1 domain252–272Forms part of the hydrophobic binding groove
BH2 domain304–319Completes the binding groove; required for BAK/BAX sequestration
Transmembrane helix328–348C-terminal anchor; targets MCL-1 to the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM)

Key structural distinction from BCL-2/BCL-xL: The extended N-terminal region is absent from BCL-2 and is much shorter in BCL-xL. This extra N-terminal mass carries the PEST domain and multiple E3-ligase docking motifs, explaining why MCL-1 is so much more rapidly turned over than its paralogs.

Subcellular localization: Primarily mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM); also reported at ER and in the nucleus [UniProt Q07820]. The MOM localization is the functionally relevant compartment for apoptosis regulation.

Alternative isoform: A shorter alternative splice variant lacking the N-terminal extension and TM domain is reported to localize to the mitochondrial inner membrane and has been suggested to have a pro-apoptotic or pro-metabolic function (distinct from the canonical MOM-anchored isoform). This page covers the canonical anti-apoptotic isoform.


Post-translational modifications and half-life regulation

MCL-1’s short half-life (often cited as ~20–30 minutes; precise figure not stated in Vogler 2025 unsourced) is set by the balance of phosphorylation-driven ubiquitination and active deubiquitination 2:

PTMSiteEnzymeConsequence
PhosphorylationThr-163ERK1/2 (survival signal)Stabilizes MCL-1 by reducing MULE-mediated ubiquitination; couples MCL-1 abundance to RAS-ERK growth-factor signaling
PhosphorylationSer-159GSK-3β (pro-apoptotic signal)Primes MCL-1 for ubiquitination by β-TrCP E3 ligase → proteasomal degradation
PhosphorylationSer-162CDK1 (mitosis)Promotes APC/C^Cdc20-mediated ubiquitination and degradation during mitosis
UbiquitinationK5, K40, K136, K194, K197MULE (HUWE1), β-TrCP, FBW7, APC/C^Cdc20Polyubiquitination → 26S proteasome → rapid degradation
DeubiquitinationMultipleUSP9X, USP20Removes ubiquitin chains → increases MCL-1 stability and anti-apoptotic capacity
Caspase-3 cleavageAsp-127, Asp-157Caspase-3Generates a C-terminal truncation that acquires pro-apoptotic activity; feedforward amplification during apoptotic execution

Regulatory logic: The competing phosphorylation at Thr-163 (stabilizing; ERK) vs Ser-159 (destabilizing; GSK-3β) means that MCL-1 stability is directly coupled to PI3K-AKT-ERK survival signaling. Withdrawal of growth factor signaling simultaneously withdraws Thr-163 phosphorylation and activates GSK-3β → rapid MCL-1 collapse → lowered BAK threshold → apoptosis. This is why MCL-1 functions as an acute-response rheostat rather than a stable structural guard.


Mechanism of apoptosis inhibition

MCL-1 operates at the MOM to prevent mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) through the same general mechanism as BCL-2 and BCL-xL — sequestration of pro-apoptotic family members via its BH3-binding groove — but with critical selectivity differences:

BAK is the primary MCL-1 substrate

MCL-1 has high affinity for BAK and is the dominant anti-apoptotic regulator holding BAK in check at the MOM 2. In contrast, BCL-xL and BCL-2 have higher relative affinity for BAX. This creates a therapeutic divergence: navitoclax (BCL-2/BCL-xL/BCL-w inhibitor) releases BAX-dependent apoptosis while leaving MCL-1-sequestered BAK intact; MCL-1 inhibitors release BAK directly.

EffectorPrimary anti-apoptotic guardSecondary guard
BAKMCL-1BCL-xL
BAXBCL-xLBCL-2, MCL-1 (lower affinity)

BH3-only protein selectivity

MCL-1’s binding groove has a distinct selectivity profile from BCL-2/BCL-xL 2:

BH3-only proteinAffinity for MCL-1Notes
BIMHighDirect activator; Opferman 2003 FP Kd 74 ± 2 nM (BIM-BH3 peptide vs GST-MCL-1, fluorescence polarization) 3. Method-dependent value — Chen 2005 (Mol Cell 17:393) reports BIM IC50 vs MCL-1 = 2.4 nM in competitive binding format. The two assay formats are not directly comparable (FP Kd vs competitive IC50); both readouts place BIM-MCL-1 binding in the high-affinity regime. See bim for full discussion of the method comparison.
NOXAHigh (selective for MCL-1)Sensitizer BH3-only; selective neutralization of MCL-1 + A1 only — Chen 2005 IC50 vs MCL-1 = 24 nM, vs A1 = 180 nM, negligible for BCL-2/BCL-xL/BCL-w. NOXA is the cell’s endogenous tool for selectively targeting MCL-1/BAK 2.
PUMAHigh (5.0 nM)Pan-binder per Chen 2005 (IC50 vs MCL-1 = 5.0 nM, comparable to its BCL-2/xL/w affinities). Reclassification: PUMA’s pan-binding profile is necessary but not sufficient for direct activator status — Chipuk 2010 Fig 1B classifies PUMA as sensitizer/derepressor only. See puma for the contested classification.
BADLowSelectively targets BCL-2/BCL-xL/BCL-w; negligible affinity for MCL-1 — explaining why BAD overexpression does not neutralize MCL-1

NOXA as a selective MCL-1 antagonist: NOXA (encoded by PMAIP1) is a p53 transcriptional target that functions as a selective MCL-1 sensitizer. Its BH3 sequence has a distinct binding mode that allows high-affinity engagement with MCL-1’s groove but poor binding to the BCL-2/BCL-xL groove. This selectivity means NOXA induction — in response to p53 activation, genotoxic stress, or proteasome inhibition — specifically disrupts MCL-1-held BAK without displacing BCL-xL-sequestered BAX 2. NOXA is thus the cell’s endogenous tool for selectively targeting the MCL-1/BAK axis.


Role in aging: SCAP function in senescent cells

MCL-1 as a BAK-specific SCAP node

Senescent cells resist apoptosis via upregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members — the Senescent Cell Anti-Apoptotic Pathways (SCAPs). The bak page establishes MCL-1 as the dominant anti-apoptotic regulator of BAK in senescent cells, based on pharmacological dissection of SCAP architecture. MCL-1 inhibitors (S63845) can trigger senolytic apoptosis in cell types where BAK is the dominant MOMP effector.

Single-cell transcriptomics provided direct evidence of MCL-1’s senolytic relevance. Troiani et al. 2022 (Nature Communications) used scRNA-seq to profile senescent tumor cells and showed that MCL-1 is the dominant upregulated anti-apoptotic gene in senescent tumor cell populations; pharmacological MCL-1 inhibition with S63845 completely eliminated senescent tumor cells and metastases in preclinical models, whereas navitoclax (BCL-2/BCL-xL) only partially reduced them 4. This implies that the senescent tumor cell SCAP is MCL-1-dominant — not BCL-xL-dominant as in endothelial cells.

DimensionStatusNotes
Pathway conserved in humans?yesMCL-1 MOM localization, BH-domain interactions, and BAK selectivity are conserved; Troiani 2022 scRNA-seq data is from mouse prostate tumor models (Pten-/- mice); human cancer cell lines used for in vitro validation only
Phenotype conserved in humans?partialSCAP upregulation in senescent cells confirmed in human cell lines and tumor tissue; primary aged non-tumor human tissue MCL-1 SCAP mapping is less characterized
Replicated in humans?noAll MCL-1 senolytic data is preclinical; no completed human aging-indication MCL-1 inhibitor trials as of 2026-05-04 needs-human-replication

Cell-type specificity and the multi-target SCAP problem

A critical caveat from the Zhu 2016 siRNA study (see bcl-2 page) is that senescent IMR90 fibroblasts require the triple combination of BCL-2 + BCL-xL + BCL-w knockdown (not single knockdown) for senolysis — suggesting that in fibroblasts, MCL-1’s contribution to the SCAP may be partly redundant with BCL-w 5. The cell-type-specific dominance of MCL-1 vs BCL-xL vs BCL-w depends on which anti-apoptotic family member is most upregulated in that particular senescent cell type. needs-replication — systematic mapping of MCL-1 SCAP dominance across primary aged human tissue types has not been published.

Furthermore, Shahbandi et al. 2020 showed that in chemotherapy-induced senescent breast cancer cells, MCL-1 co-inhibition is specifically required when NOXA expression is low: navitoclax alone was insufficient, but the addition of an MCL-1 inhibitor rescued senolytic activity 6. This points to NOXA/MCL-1 expression levels as a biomarker of senolytic sensitivity in the MCL-1/BAK axis.


Genetic evidence: tissue-specific MCL-1 requirements

Conditional knockout studies have delineated which tissues depend most critically on MCL-1 for survival:

  • Lymphocytes (T and B cells): Opferman et al. 2003 (Nature) showed that conditional deletion of Mcl1 in hematopoietic cells caused profound reduction in both T and B lymphocytes due to apoptosis; splenic B cells were reduced to ~12% of normal, and T cells were markedly reduced. Residual cells in both lineages had escaped Cre-mediated deletion (retaining intact Mcl1f alleles), confirming that MCL-1 is continuously required for lymphocyte survival, not just during development 3. This established MCL-1 as a constitutive survival factor for post-mitotic lymphocytes.

  • Cardiomyocytes: Wang et al. 2013 (Genes & Development) demonstrated that cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of Mcl1 causes lethal dilated cardiomyopathy with mitochondrial dysfunction. In the constitutive model (Ckmm-Cre), all pups died within the first 10 days of birth; in the inducible adult model (Myh-CreER), fatal cardiomyopathy developed within ~3 weeks of tamoxifen induction. Cardiomyocytes undergo massive apoptosis, leading to progressive cardiac failure and early death 7. This is the mechanistic basis for the cardiotoxicity observed with MCL-1 inhibitor drugs in clinical development. Cardiomyocytes depend on MCL-1 more acutely than on BCL-2 or BCL-xL, which distinguishes their survival architecture from most other cell types.

TissueMCL-1 KO phenotypeImplication for MCL-1 inhibitor therapy
Lymphocytes (T/B cells)Rapid lymphocyte apoptosis 3Immunosuppression risk with MCL-1 inhibitors
CardiomyocytesLethal cardiomyopathy 7Dose-limiting cardiotoxicity in clinical development
Most tumor cellsSurvival; cancer-promotingTarget for MCL-1 inhibitor cancer therapy

Pharmacological targeting: MCL-1 inhibitors

MCL-1’s BH3-binding groove has been a challenging drug target due to its unusually flat and electrostatically distinct binding surface compared to BCL-2. First-generation BH3 mimetics (navitoclax, venetoclax) do not effectively engage MCL-1’s groove — NOXA’s binding mode differs from BAD/ABT-class molecules. The development of selective MCL-1 BH3 mimetics required structure-guided medicinal chemistry.

S63845

S63845 is the prototypical selective MCL-1 BH3 mimetic. Kotschy et al. 2016 (Nature) reported that S63845 binds the MCL-1 groove with sub-nanomolar affinity, displacing BAK and BH3-only proteins, and induces apoptosis across diverse hematological and solid tumor models — including many navitoclax-resistant cancer types that are MCL-1-dependent 8. Critically, S63845 showed minimal activity in BCL-2-dependent models (consistent with target selectivity). Preclinical cardiac safety signals were noted in that study. Troiani et al. 2022 extended its application as a senolytic 4. Clinical development for oncology is ongoing (Phase 1 trials). As a senolytic agent in aging, S63845 is preclinical only, with cardiotoxicity as the primary translation barrier. needs-human-replication dose-response-unclear

AMG-176 and AMG-397

AMG-176 is a selective covalent-like MCL-1 inhibitor advanced by Amgen through Phase 1 trials in hematological malignancies. AMG-397 is an orally bioavailable analog. Both have demonstrated MCL-1 selectivity and on-target tumor-cell apoptosis in Phase 1 studies. Cardiotoxicity was a notable finding in Phase 1 data for AMG-176 (reversible cardiac troponin elevation), consistent with the cardiomyocyte MCL-1 KO phenotype. Clinical development status as senolytic agents is not established as of 2026-05-04. unsourced — confirm AMG-176 Phase 1 cardiac safety outcomes at ClinicalTrials.gov.

AZD-5991

AZD-5991 (AstraZeneca) is another selective MCL-1 inhibitor in Phase 1 clinical trials for hematological malignancies. It has demonstrated potent MCL-1 binding and tumor-cell apoptosis induction in preclinical models. Cardiac safety profiling is ongoing. unsourced — confirm AZD-5991 clinical status at ClinicalTrials.gov.

Summary of MCL-1 inhibitor landscape for senolytic development:

DrugSelectivitySenolytic evidenceCardiotoxicityClinical stage
S63845MCL-1Yes (Troiani 2022, preclinical) 4Noted preclinicallyPhase 1 (oncology)
AMG-176MCL-1Not establishedTroponin elevation (Phase 1)Phase 1 (oncology)
AMG-397MCL-1Not establishedUnder studyPhase 1 (oncology)
AZD-5991MCL-1Not establishedUnder studyPhase 1 (oncology)
NavitoclaxBCL-2/BCL-xL/BCL-wYes (but misses MCL-1/BAK axis)Thrombocytopenia (BCL-xL)Phase 2 (oncology + senolytics)

needs-human-replication — No MCL-1 inhibitor has an approved aging indication or completed senolytic clinical trial as of 2026-05-04.


MCL-1 in cancer amplification

MCL1 is located at chromosomal locus 1q21.2, a region recurrently amplified in multiple human cancer types. The gene is among the most frequently amplified anti-apoptotic genes in TCGA data, with copy-number gains found in myeloma, lung, breast, and other solid tumors. MCL-1 amplification correlates with resistance to BCL-2/BCL-xL inhibitors (navitoclax, venetoclax) — a major clinical resistance mechanism — and predicts sensitivity to MCL-1-selective inhibitors 8 2. In the aging context, this cancer amplification pattern is relevant because: (1) cancer is a dominant aging disease, and (2) MCL-1-amplified tumors represent a population where MCL-1-targeted senolysis would be most effective and most needed.

unsourced — precise TCGA frequency data (% of cancers with MCL1 amplification, ranking relative to other Bcl-2 family members) should be pulled from cBioPortal before stating specific numbers.


Pathway membership

  • apoptosis-pathway — MCL-1 is a core anti-apoptotic regulator at the BAK checkpoint; its inhibition is required to access BAK-mediated MOMP in MCL-1-dependent cell types
  • p53-pathway — p53 transcriptionally induces NOXA, the selective endogenous MCL-1 antagonist; p53 also induces PUMA, which binds MCL-1 among other anti-apoptotic proteins
  • cellular-senescence — MCL-1 is upregulated as a SCAP component in senescent tumor cells (Troiani 2022); BAK-dominant senescent cell populations are MCL-1-dependent for survival

Key interactors

InteractorInteraction typeFunctional consequence
bakDirect binding (BH3 groove); high affinityMCL-1 is the dominant BAK anti-apoptotic guard; MCL-1 loss or inhibition directly releases BAK for MOMP
baxDirect binding (BH3 groove); moderate affinitySecondary BAX guard; BCL-xL is more important for BAX tonic suppression
bimBH3:groove (high affinity)Direct activator BH3-only; BIM can displace BAK from MCL-1 if BIM levels exceed sequestration capacity
noxaBH3:groove (selective for MCL-1)Selective MCL-1 sensitizer; NOXA induction (p53-driven) is the cell’s endogenous tool for specifically disrupting MCL-1/BAK
pumaBH3:groove (moderate affinity, pan-specific)p53 transcriptional target; binds MCL-1 among other anti-apoptotic proteins
badNegligible (low affinity for MCL-1 groove)BAD does not neutralize MCL-1; selective for BCL-2/BCL-xL/BCL-w groove
p53Indirect (transcriptional inducer of NOXA, PUMA)DNA damage → p53 → NOXA induction → selective MCL-1 neutralization → BAK activation

Aging interventions that modulate MCL-1

  • senolytics — MCL-1 inhibitors (S63845) are an emerging senolytic class targeting MCL-1-dependent senescent cell populations; preclinical only; cardiotoxicity barrier
  • NOXA induction strategies — pharmacological approaches to upregulate NOXA (e.g., proteasome inhibitors, p53 reactivators) may indirectly neutralize MCL-1 and have been explored in cancer; not yet characterized as senolytics
  • caloric-restriction — reduces senescent cell burden via indirect mechanisms; MCL-1-specific role not established no-mechanism
  • mtor inhibition (rapamycin) — may affect MCL-1 translation through S6K1/4EBP1-dependent protein synthesis reduction; not directly demonstrated unsourced

Limitations and open questions

GapTagNotes
MCL-1 SCAP dominance in non-tumor senescent cellsneeds-replicationTroiani 2022 scRNA-seq data is from tumor material; MCL-1 dominance vs BCL-xL in primary aged (non-tumor) human tissues uncharacterized
MCL-1 inhibitor senolytic dose-response in vivodose-response-unclearNo published senolytic dose-response for S63845, AMG-176, or AZD-5991 in chronologically aged animals or humans
Cardiotoxicity mitigation for MCL-1 senolytic uselong-term-unknownCardiomyocyte-specific MCL-1 requirement (Wang 2013) creates a fundamental therapeutic index problem; tissue-targeted delivery or intermittent dosing strategies are hypothetical
MCL-1 SCAP contribution vs BCL-w in IMR90 fibroblastscontradictory-evidenceZhu 2016 siRNA data implicates BCL-2 + BCL-xL + BCL-w triple combination in IMR90 senolysis; MCL-1’s contribution was not explicitly dissected in that study
GenAge entry for MCL1needs-canonical-idMCL1 GenAge status not confirmed; aging relevance is primarily mechanistic (SCAP biology), not based on direct lifespan-modification experiments in model organisms
MCL-1 amplification frequency in TCGAunsourcedcBioPortal should be consulted for precise copy-number amplification frequencies before stating specific percentages
NOXA-based senolytic strategyneeds-replicationNOXA as selective MCL-1 antagonist is well-characterized in cancer biology but has not been systematically tested as a senolytic strategy in aging models
MCL-1 inner-membrane isoform (pro-metabolic function)no-mechanismThe shorter MCL-1 isoform localizing to the mitochondrial inner membrane has been suggested to support mitochondrial bioenergetics; its role in aging is unexplored

Footnotes

Footnotes

  1. doi:10.1073/pnas.90.8.3516 · Kozopas KM, Yang T, Buchan HL, Zhou P, Craig RW · 1993 · PNAS 90(8):3516–3520 · in-vitro · model: ML-1 myeloid leukemia differentiation screen · 965 citations; locally downloaded · original discovery of MCL1 as a BCL-2 homolog expressed during myeloid differentiation; 350 aa protein (37.3 kDa predicted); PEST sequences identified in N-terminal extension

  2. doi:10.1038/s41392-025-02176-0 · Vogler M et al. · 2025 · Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy · review · 139 citations; locally downloaded · comprehensive current review of BCL-2 family mechanisms, MCL-1 turnover regulation, BH3-only protein selectivity profiles, and clinical development of BH3 mimetics including MCL-1 inhibitors 2 3 4 5 6 7

  3. doi:10.1038/nature02067 · Opferman JT, Letai A, Beard C, Sorcinelli MD, Ong CC, Korsmeyer SJ · 2003 · Nature 426(6967):671–676 · in-vivo · model: conditional Mcl1 deletion mouse (lymphocyte lineage; Lck-Cre and CD19-Cre) · 777 citations; locally downloaded · established MCL-1 as continuously required anti-apoptotic factor for T and B lymphocyte survival; lymphocyte-specific deletion caused profound reduction in both lineages (splenic B cells to ~12% of normal; T cells markedly reduced); residual cells had escaped Cre-mediated deletion 2 3

  4. doi:10.1038/s41467-022-29824-1 · Troiani M, Colucci M, D’Ambrosio M et al. · 2022 · Nature Communications 13:2388 · in-vitro + in-vivo · model: mouse prostate tumor models (Pten-/- and Pten-/-;Timp1-/- transgenic mice) for scRNA-seq; human prostate cancer cell lines (PC3 shTIMP1, LNCaP) and mouse xenograft models for in vitro/in vivo validation · 110 citations; locally downloaded · scRNA-seq identified MCL-1 (Mcl1) as the dominant upregulated anti-apoptotic gene in senescent tumor cells; S63845 completely eliminated senescent tumor cells and metastases while navitoclax (ABT263) only partially reduced them; established MCL-1 inhibitors as a senolytic class for tumor-derived senescent populations 2 3

  5. doi:10.1111/acel.12445 · Zhu Y, Tchkonia T et al. · 2016 · Aging Cell 15(3):428–435 · in-vitro · model: senescent IMR90 human lung fibroblasts, HUVECs, primary preadipocytes · locally downloaded · triple BCL-2 + BCL-xL + BCL-w siRNA combination (reflecting navitoclax’s target profile) was senolytic in IMR90 cells; BCL-xL alone was not sufficient; MCL-1 not independently dissected in this study

  6. doi:10.1038/s41418-020-0564-6 · Shahbandi A, Rao SG, Anderson JB et al. · 2020 · Cell Death and Differentiation · in-vitro + in-vivo · model: chemotherapy-induced senescent breast cancer cells; mouse tumor model · 115 citations; archive: download failed — PDF not locally available no-fulltext-access · navitoclax alone insufficient for senolysis when NOXA expression is low; co-inhibition of MCL-1 rescues senolytic activity; NOXA/MCL-1 expression identified as a biomarker of senolytic sensitivity — quantitative claims from this source are unverified

  7. doi:10.1101/gad.215855.113 · Wang X, Bathina M, Lynch J, Koss B, Calabrese C, Frase S, Schuetz JD, Rehg JE, Opferman JT · 2013 · Genes & Development 27(12):1351–1364 · in-vivo · model: cardiomyocyte-specific conditional Mcl1 knockout mice (constitutive Ckmm-Cre and inducible Myh-CreER) · 262 citations; locally downloaded · cardiomyocyte-specific Mcl1 deletion caused lethal dilated cardiomyopathy with mitochondrial respiratory chain dysfunction (confirmed by ECHO and OCR assays); constitutive model: all pups died within first 10 days of birth; inducible adult model: fatal cardiomyopathy within ~3 weeks of tamoxifen; mechanistic basis for cardiotoxicity of MCL-1 inhibitors 2

  8. doi:10.1038/nature19830 · Kotschy A, Szlavik Z, Murray J, Davidson J et al. · 2016 · Nature 538(7626):477–482 · in-vitro + in-vivo · model: diverse cancer cell lines and mouse xenograft models · 1,025 citations; archive: not_oa, not downloaded · S63845 is a potent selective MCL-1 inhibitor that induces apoptosis across diverse cancer models including BCL-2/BCL-xL-resistant types; established MCL-1 selectivity vs BCL-2/BCL-xL; identified preclinical cardiac safety signals no-fulltext-access 2