Specificity
This antibody recognises an epitope within the N-terminal region of Beclin-1, a ~52 kDa coiled-coil protein which shares structural homology with the yeast autophagy gene apg6/vps30. The ability of cells to undergo bulk degradation of endogenous proteins through an autophagosomic-lysosomal pathway, termed autophagy or Type II cell death, is important in the control of cell growth and development. Beclin-1 is a Bcl-2 interacting mammalian gene which not only mediates autophagy, but also functions as a tumor suppressor, being expressed at reduced levels in human breast carcinoma, and may also play a role in defense against viral infection.