Structural highlights
Function
[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.[1] [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.[2] [3] Isoform Bcl-X(S) promotes apoptosis.[4] [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
Beclin-1, originally identified as a Bcl-2 binding protein, is an evolutionarily conserved protein required for autophagy. The direct interaction between Beclin-1 and Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL provides a potential convergence point for apoptosis and autophagy, two programmed cell death processes. Given the functional significance of the interaction between Beclin-1 and Bcl-2/Bcl-xL, we performed detailed biochemical and structural characterizations of this interaction. We demonstrated that the Bcl-xL-binding domain of Beclin-1 contains a BH3 domain. Therefore, Beclin-1 is a new member of the BH3-only family proteins. The structure of Bcl-xL in complex with the Beclin-1 BH3 domain was determined at high resolution by NMR spectroscopy. Although similar to other known BH3 domains, the Beclin-1 BH3 domain displays its own distinct features in the complex with Bcl-xL. Systematic analysis of all known Bcl-xL/BH3 domain complexes helped us to identify the molecular basis underlying the capacity of Bcl-xL to recognize diverse target sequences.
Molecular basis of Bcl-xL's target recognition versatility revealed by the structure of Bcl-xL in complex with the BH3 domain of Beclin-1.,Feng W, Huang S, Wu H, Zhang M J Mol Biol. 2007 Sep 7;372(1):223-35. Epub 2007 Jun 30. PMID:17659302[6]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
See Also
References
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Feng W, Huang S, Wu H, Zhang M. Molecular basis of Bcl-xL's target recognition versatility revealed by the structure of Bcl-xL in complex with the BH3 domain of Beclin-1. J Mol Biol. 2007 Sep 7;372(1):223-35. Epub 2007 Jun 30. PMID:17659302 doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2007.06.069
