BAX,also named as BCL2L4,is a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 protein family,which plays a pivotal role in controlling cell life and death. Bax largely localizes to the cytoplasm of healthy cells,but accumulates on the outer mitochondrial membrane upon apoptosis induction . BAX can commit a cell to apoptosis by translocation from the cytosol to the mitochondria and permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane,which leads to the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria . The expression of BAX is upregulated by the tumor suppressor protein p53,and BAX has been shown to be involved in p53-mediated apoptosis .