Growth factor signaling regulates the growth and survival of cells during development and homeostasis. The BCL-2 family of proteins represents a critical control point in the apoptotic pathway residing upstream to irreversible commitment to cell death, where its members control the release of apoptogenic factors from the mitochondria by regulating mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization. A recent article by Mauer et al.(Mol. Cell 21: 749-760, 2006) provides convincing evidence that one important role of growth factor signaling is its regulation of the protein stability of the critical antiapoptotic BCL-2 family member, MCL-1.