Analysis of Beclin 1/Bcl-2 Signaling Pathway in Stroke

Beclin 1 is the first mammalian autophagy protein identified as a novel Bcl-2 interacting protein. A key molecular mechanism for the regulation of mammalian autophagy was identified by studying the interaction between Bcl-2 and Beclin 1. In addition to Bcl-2 phosphorylation regulating the Bcl-2/Bcl-xl/Beclin 1 complex, Beclin 1 can be phosphorylated by a variety of kinases to regulate autophagy. The regulation of autophagy by Beclin 1 phosphorylation is bidirectional. Depending on the upstream signaling kinase, phosphorylation of Beclin 1 can activate or inhibit autophagy. Local cerebral ischemia upregulates Beclin 1 expression and induces autophagy-like cell death, suggesting that Beclin 1/Bcl-2 signaling is involved in the regulation of autophagy in ischemic stroke. Neither deleterious nor neuroprotective factors affect Beclin 1/Bcl-2 signaling activity and thus autophagy in ischemic stroke.

Fig. 1. Model of autophagy and endocytic pathways regulated by Bcl-2–Beclin 1 and III PI3K complexes. (Xu et al., 2019)

Our Services

Ace Therapeutics provides comprehensive services to analyze the role of Beclin 1/Bcl-2-regulated autophagy in stroke and help clients develop stroke drugs that modulate the Beclin 1/Bcl-2 signaling pathway. Utilizing our extensive experience and state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, we integrate bioinformatics, molecular biology techniques, and in vivo experiments to reveal the complexity of stroke pathophysiology. Through careful data interpretation and rigorous validation, our approach ensures the robustness and reliability of results, accelerating your research.

Identification and validation of Beclin 1/Bcl-2 Related Targets for Stroke

We provide multifaceted approaches to identify potential therapeutic targets for stroke by analyzing the Beclin 1/Bcl-2 signaling pathway. Some known targets include:

• Bcl-2
• Beclin 1
• Bcl2/BclXL
• Beclin 1/Bcl-2
• Beclin 1-Vps34-Vps15

Analysis of Beclin 1/Bcl-2 Signaling Pathway in Experimental Stroke Models

We perform genetic and pharmacological manipulations to decipher the functional significance of Beclin 1 in neuronal cells. Using molecular techniques such as siRNA knockdown, we can modulate Beclin 1 expression levels and assess the effects on autophagy, apoptosis, and neuronal survival. In addition, we can investigate the interactions between Beclin 1 and other autophagy-associated factors to reveal the specific functional mechanisms of Beclin 1-mediated regulation of autophagy in stroke.

• We use Western blotting and immunohistochemistry to determine the temporal and spatial changes in Beclin 1 levels in the cortex, striatum, and penumbra regions of the brain following cerebral ischemia.
• We provide immunoprecipitation and protein-protein interaction assays to analyze the dynamics of the Beclin 1/Bcl-2 complex during ischemic stroke.
• We can analyze the effect of Bcl-2 phosphorylation on the disruption of Beclin 1/Bcl-2 complex and its subsequent effects on autophagy induction and mitochondrial damage.

Ace Therapeutics is dedicated to helping clients evaluate the neuroprotective and therapeutic potential of targeting the Beclin 1/Bcl-2 signaling pathway in response to ischemic stroke. As a pharmaceutical company with state-of-the-art research facilities and extensive partnering experience, Ace Therapeutics has the advantage of specialized technology and resources. If you are interested in our services, please do not hesitate to contact us!

1. Xu, H. D., Qin, Z. H. (2019). Beclin 1, Bcl-2 and autophagy. Autophagy: Biology and Diseases: Basic Science, 109-126.