Beclin 1 Products

Beclin 1 was the first mammalian gene identified to mediate autophagy. Autophagy, a process of bulk protein degradation via an autophagosomic-lysosomal pathway, is critical for for proper differentiation, cell maintenence during nutrient deprivation, and normal growth control, but is often defective in tumor cells. Together with its binding partner, PI3K, Beclin-1 forms a clomplex that is required to initiate the formation of the autophagasome.

Beclin-1 encodes an evolutionarily conserved 60kDa coiled-coil protein that is expressed in human muscle, epithelial cells and neurons. In gene transfer studies, beclin 1 promotes nutrient deprivation-induced autophagy, inhibits mammary tumorigenesis, and inhibits viral replication.

Expression of the Beclin1 protein is frequently decreased in malignant breast epithelial cells. Based upon these observations, it is speculated that beclin-1 may work through induction of autophagy to negatively regulate tumorigenesis and to control viral infections. Beclin 1 may also play a role in other biological processes in which autophagy is important such as cell differentiation and nutritional stress responses.

Gene ID:8678