BCL2L1 and cancer: Our findings that (1) Bcl-xL large loop is likely to adopt a defined structure in cells, (2) that monodeamidation acts as an internal safeguard for Bcl-xLoncogenic properties, and (3) that Asp52Bcl-xL remains a target for anti-neoplasic agents inducing its phosphorylation, are of particular importance for therapies designed to limit the survival means cancer cells can resort to.