Beclin 1: a BH3-only protein that fails to induce apoptosis.
Beclin 1 has been recently shown to possess a Bcl-2 homology-3 (BH3) domain that mediates its interaction with antiapoptotic multidomain proteins. Unlike other BH3-only proteins, Beclin 1 fails to stimulate apoptosis when it is overexpressed. In this issue of Oncogene, Ciechomska et al. report the intriguing finding that Bcl-2, as it interacts with Beclin 1, does not lose its anti-apoptotic potential. This finding may have far-reaching implications for the comprehension of the cross-talk between apoptosis and autophagy.
Boya
P
P
3D Lab (Development, Differentiation & Degeneration), Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiopathology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maetzu 9, Madrid, Spain. pboya@cib.csic.es
Kroemer
G
G
D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D017209:Apoptosis; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001343:Autophagy; D000071186:Beclin-1; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C491997:BECN1 protein, human; D000071186:Beclin-1; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2