Beclin 1 Rabbit Polyclonal Antibody

Function

BECN1 (Beclin 1) is a coiled-coil protein that has been implicated as an inhibitor of tumorigenesis. BECN1, which associates with Bcl-2, plays a significant role in autophagy. Autophagy is the degradation of cellular proteins in the lysosomes, and when this pathway is suppressed, cell growth is deregulated. Autophagy is controlled by the same signal transduction pathway that induces the phosphorylation of the Ribosomal Protein S6, and both are mediated via amino acids. BECN1 expression in various carcinoma cell lines such as MCF7 is low, whereas it is ubiquitously expressed in normal breast tissue. In transfected MCF7 cells, BECN1 complements autophagocytosis and, subsequently, inhibits cellular proliferation. Additionally, BECN1 shares structural similarity to the yeast autophagy gene product, Apg6, and was one of the first mammalian proteins discovered to mediate autophagy.

Background References

1. Chen GY et al. Graphene oxide triggers toll-like receptors/autophagy responses in vitro and inhibits tumor growth in vivo. Adv Healthc Mater 3:1486-95 (2014).

2. Abdulrahman BA et al. Depletion of the ubiquitin-binding adaptor molecule SQSTM1/p62 from macrophages harboring cftr F508 mutation improves the delivery of Burkholderia cenocepacia to the autophagic machinery. J Biol Chem 288:2049-58 (2013).

Sequence Similarity

Belongs to the beclin family.

Tissue Specificity

Ubiquitous.

Post-translational Modification

Phosphorylation at Thr-119 by DAPK1 reduces its interaction with BCL2 and BCL2L1 and promotes induction of autophagy. In response to autophagic stimuli, phosphorylated at serine residues by AMPK in an ATG14-dependent manner, and this phosphorylation is critical for maximally efficient autophagy.; Polyubiquitinated by NEDD4, both with 'Lys-11'- and 'Lys-63'-linkages. 'Lys-11'-linked polyubiquitination leads to degradation and is enhanced when the stabilizing interaction partner VPS34 is depleted. Deubiquitinated by USP10 and USP13, leading to stabilize the PIK3C3/VPS34-containing complexes. Polyubiquitinated at Lys-402 with 'Lys-48'-linkages. 'Lys-48'-linked polyubiquitination of Lys-402 leads to degradation. Deubiquitinated by ATXN3, leading to stabilization.; Proteolytically processed by caspases including CASP8 and CASP3; the C-terminal fragments lack autophagy-inducing capacity and are proposed to induce apoptosis. Thus the cleavage is proposed to be an determinant to switch from autophagy to apoptosis pathways affecting cellular homeostasis including viral infections and survival of tumor cells.

Subcellular Location

Cytoplasm, Endosome, Mitochondrion membrane Mitochondrion membrane, Endoplasmic reticulum membrane

UNIPROT

SwissProt: Q14457 Human

SwissProt: O88597 Mouse

Synonyms