Fig. 2

Caspase-mediated proteolytic cleavage of Beclin 1 in neuronal cells. Staurosporine (STS), a known activator of caspase 3, leads to Beclin 1 cleavage and induces apoptosis in the B103 neuronal cell line. a Representative Western blot of neuronal cells treated with increasing doses of Staurosporine, probed with anti-C-terminal Beclin 1 and anti-actin antibodies. Cells were lysed 24 h after addition of Staurosporine to the culture media. Arrowheads indicate molecular weight markers (in kDa). b, c Quantification (b) and anti-correlation of FL-beclin with C-beclin level (c). d Representative Western blot of neuronal cells treated with 1 μM Staurosporine, probed with anti-Beclin 1, anti-cleaved caspase 3 and anti-actin antibodies. Cell were lysed 0 to 24 h after addition of Staurosporine to the culture media. e Quantification of Beclin 1 level and cleaved caspase 3 (n = 3–4 per time point). Beclin 1 cleavage fragments increase with the activation of caspase 3. Pearson’s correlation, *p < 0.05