title: Targeting Beclin 1 for viral subversion of macroautophagy.
abstract: We have recently characterized that influenza A virus blocks autophagosome degradation via its matrix protein 2. Matrix protein 2 seems to achieve this macroautophagy inhibition not by its well-characterized proton channel function, but possibly due to its binding to Atg6/Beclin 1, thereby enhancing the death of its host cell. Here we discuss several viruses that now have been described to compromise macroautophagy via binding to Atg6/Beclin 1 with different outcomes for their replication, and how interaction with one and the same protein could inhibit autophagosome generation or degradation.
authors.affiliation: Viral Immunobiology, Institute of Experimental Immunology, University Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gannagé
authors.forename: Patrick C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Rämer
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Münz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D001343:Autophagy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D000071186:Beclin-1; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000379:methods; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D014780:Viruses / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C491997:BECN1 protein, human; D000071186:Beclin-1; D008565:Membrane Proteins