title: Beclin-1: autophagic regulator and therapeutic target in cancer.
abstract: Beclin-1 (the mammalian ortholog of yeast ATG6) has been well-characterized to play a pivotal role in autophagy that is a major catabolic pathway in which the cell degrades macromolecules and damaged organelles. Beclin-1 structure has been identified to contain three identifiable domains, including a short Bcl-2-homology-3 (BH3) motif, a central coiled-coil domain (CCD) and a C-terminal half encompassing the evolutionarily conserved domain (ECD). Recent data indicate that Beclin-1 may interact with some co-factors such as Class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3KCIII)/Vps34, Vps15, ATG14L/Barkor, UVRAG, Bif-1, Rubicon, Ambra1, HMGB1, Survivin, Akt and Bcl-2/Bcl-XL to positively or negatively orchestrate the Beclin-1 interactome, thereby co-regulating the autophagy process. Here, we summarize that Beclin-1 serves not only as a key autophagic regulator with its specific interactors, but as a potential therapeutic target in cancer.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors: Lei-lei
authors: LL
authors: Fu
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Cheng
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001343:Autophagy / Q000502:physiology*; D000071186:Beclin-1; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C491997:BECN1 protein, human; D000071186:Beclin-1; D008565:Membrane Proteins