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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Quantitative Analysis of Autophagy using Advanced 3D Fluorescence Microscopy
Published on: May 3, 2013
UVRAG: a new player in autophagy and tumor cell growth
Chengyu Liang1, Pinghui Feng, Bonsu Ku
1Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and Tumor Virology Division, New England Primate Research Center, Harvard Medical School, 1 Pine Hill Drive, Southborough, MA 01772, USA.
Abstract:
Autophagy has a well-documented role in the maintenance of homeostasis and the response to stressful environments and it is often deregulated in various human diseases including cancer. The regulation of the Beclin 1-PI3KC3 complex lipid kinase activity is a critical element in the autophagy signaling pathway. Previous studies(1) have demonstrated that Beclin 1-PI3KC3-mediated autophagy is negatively regulated by a proto-oncogene Bcl-2. We have recently identified a novel coiled-coil UVRAG tumor suppressor candidate, which positively engages in Beclin 1-dependent autophagy. UVRAG interacts with Beclin 1, leading to activation of autophagy and thereof inhibition of tumorigenesis. This finding adds a new player to the emerging picture of the autophagy network, under-scoring the importance of the coordinated activity between Bcl-2 and UVRAG in the regulation of Beclin 1-PI3KC3-mediated autophagy and tumor cell control.
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