Mcl-1

Mcl-1 is a protein that helps cells survive by preventing them from undergoing programmed cell death, known as apoptosis. It belongs to the Bcl-2 family of proteins, which regulate cell life and death. Mcl-1 is especially important in normal cells for maintaining tissue health but can also be involved in cancer if it becomes overactive, helping cancer cells avoid death and grow unchecked. Because of this, scientists study Mcl-1 as a potential target for cancer therapies aimed at restoring the natural cell death process.