Structural highlights
Function
[B2CL1_HUMAN] Potent inhibitor of cell death. Inhibits activation of caspases (By similarity). Appears to regulate cell death by blocking the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) by binding to it and preventing the release of the caspase activator, CYC1, from the mitochondrial membrane. Also acts as a regulator of G2 checkpoint and progression to cytokinesis during mitosis.[1] [2] Isoform Bcl-X(S) promotes apoptosis.[3] [4] [BECN1_HUMAN] Plays a central role in autophagy. Required for the abcission step in cytokinesis. May play a role in antiviral host defense. Protects against infection by a neurovirulent strain of Sindbis virus.[5]
Evolutionary Conservation
Check, as determined by ConSurfDB. You may read the explanation of the method and the full data available from ConSurf.
Publication Abstract from PubMed
Bcl-2 family proteins are key regulators of apoptosis and have recently been shown to modulate autophagy. The tumor suppressor Beclin 1 has been proposed to coordinate both apoptosis and autophagy through direct interaction with anti-apoptotic family members Bcl-2 and/or Bcl-X(L). However, the molecular basis for this interaction remains enigmatic. Here we report that Beclin 1 contains a conserved BH3 domain, which is both necessary and sufficient for its interaction with Bcl-X(L). We also report the crystal structure of a Beclin BH3 peptide in complex with Bcl-X(L) at 2.5A resolution. Reminiscent of previously determined Bcl-X(L)-BH3 structures, the amphipathic BH3 helix of Beclin 1 bound to a conserved hydrophobic groove of Bcl-X(L). These results define Beclin 1 as a novel BH3-only protein, implying that Beclin 1 may have a direct role in initiating apoptotic signaling. We propose that this putative apoptotic function may be linked to the ability of Beclin 1 to suppress tumor formation in mammals.
Crystal structure of the Bcl-XL-Beclin 1 peptide complex: Beclin 1 is a novel BH3-only protein.,Oberstein A, Jeffrey PD, Shi Y J Biol Chem. 2007 Apr 27;282(17):13123-32. Epub 2007 Mar 2. PMID:17337444[6]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
See Also
References
- ↑ Terrano DT, Upreti M, Chambers TC. Cyclin-dependent kinase 1-mediated Bcl-xL/Bcl-2 phosphorylation acts as a functional link coupling mitotic arrest and apoptosis. Mol Cell Biol. 2010 Feb;30(3):640-56. doi: 10.1128/MCB.00882-09. Epub 2009 Nov, 16. PMID:19917720 doi:10.1128/MCB.00882-09
- ↑ Wang J, Beauchemin M, Bertrand R. Bcl-xL phosphorylation at Ser49 by polo kinase 3 during cell cycle progression and checkpoints. Cell Signal. 2011 Dec;23(12):2030-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2011.07.017. Epub, 2011 Aug 5. PMID:21840391 doi:10.1016/j.cellsig.2011.07.017
- ↑ Terrano DT, Upreti M, Chambers TC. Cyclin-dependent kinase 1-mediated Bcl-xL/Bcl-2 phosphorylation acts as a functional link coupling mitotic arrest and apoptosis. Mol Cell Biol. 2010 Feb;30(3):640-56. doi: 10.1128/MCB.00882-09. Epub 2009 Nov, 16. PMID:19917720 doi:10.1128/MCB.00882-09
- ↑ Wang J, Beauchemin M, Bertrand R. Bcl-xL phosphorylation at Ser49 by polo kinase 3 during cell cycle progression and checkpoints. Cell Signal. 2011 Dec;23(12):2030-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2011.07.017. Epub, 2011 Aug 5. PMID:21840391 doi:10.1016/j.cellsig.2011.07.017
- ↑ Sagona AP, Nezis IP, Pedersen NM, Liestol K, Poulton J, Rusten TE, Skotheim RI, Raiborg C, Stenmark H. PtdIns(3)P controls cytokinesis through KIF13A-mediated recruitment of FYVE-CENT to the midbody. Nat Cell Biol. 2010 Apr;12(4):362-71. doi: 10.1038/ncb2036. Epub 2010 Mar 7. PMID:20208530 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncb2036
- ↑ Oberstein A, Jeffrey PD, Shi Y. Crystal structure of the Bcl-XL-Beclin 1 peptide complex: Beclin 1 is a novel BH3-only protein. J Biol Chem. 2007 Apr 27;282(17):13123-32. Epub 2007 Mar 2. PMID:17337444 doi:10.1074/jbc.M700492200
