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Autophagy: Biology and Diseases pp 109–126Cite as

Beclin 1, Bcl-2 and Autophagy

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Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 1206))

Abstract

Beclin 1 is the first mammalian autophagy protein identified as a novel Bcl-2-interacting protein. Subsequent studies have demonstrated that this landmark protein is essential for autophagy. By investigating the interaction between Bcl-2 and Beclin 1, key molecular mechanisms of mammalian autophagy regulation have been discovered. In this chapter, we will first review the discovery of Beclin 1 and then focus on the mechanisms of Bcl-2 and Beclin 1 regulation and their effect on autophagy regulation. Finally, we summarize the evidence related to the interaction of Bcl-2 and Beclin 1 and the involvement of these proteins in human diseases such as cancers, neurodegenerative diseases and infectious diseases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Aging and Nervous Diseases, Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China

    Hai-Dong Xu & Zheng-Hong Qin

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  1. Hai-Dong Xu
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  2. Zheng-Hong Qin
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Correspondence to Hai-Dong Xu or Zheng-Hong Qin .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Department of Pharmacology and Laboratory of Aging and Nervous Diseases, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Soochow University, Suzhou, China

    Zheng-Hong Qin

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Xu, HD., Qin, ZH. (2019). Beclin 1, Bcl-2 and Autophagy. In: Qin, ZH. (eds) Autophagy: Biology and Diseases. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 1206. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-0602-4_5

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