Abstract: An autophagy-inducing compound comprises an autophagy-inducing peptide comprising Beclin 1 peptides immediately N- and C-terminally flanked by moieties R1 and R2, respectively, wherein up to six of said peptide residues may be substituted, R1 and R2 do not naturally flank the Beclin 1 residues, and F270 and F274 are optionally substituted and optionally linked. The compounds may be used to induce autophagy.

Abstract: Antibodies specific for human Beclin 1 protein phosphorylated Ser234, Ser295, Tyr229, Tyr233 or Try352 are useful in diagnosing diseases such as cancer and impaired autophagy. The invention further relates to human Beclin 1 mutated at Ser234, Ser295, Tyr229, Tyr233 or Try352 with a phospho-silencing residue and uses thereof.

Abstract: An autophagy-inducing compound comprises an autophagy-inducing peptide comprising Beclin 1 peptides immediately N- and C-terminally flanked by moieties R1 and R2, respectively, wherein up to six of said peptide residues may be substituted, R1 and R2 do not naturally flank the Belclin 1 residues, and F270 and F274 are optionally substituted and optionally linked. The compounds may be used to induce autophagy.

Abstract: Antibodies specific for human Beclin 1 protein phosphorylated Ser234, Ser295, Tyr229, Tyr233 or Try352 are useful in diagnosing diseases such as cancer and impaired autophagy. The invention further relates to human Beclin 1 mutated at Ser234, Ser295, Tyr229, Tyr233 or Try352 with a phospho-silencing residue and uses thereof.

Abstract: An autophagy-inducing compound comprises an autophagy-inducing peptide comprising Beclin 1 residues 269-279 immediately N- and C-terminally flanked by moieties R1 and R2, respectively, wherein up to six of said residues may be substituted, R1 and R2 do not naturally flank the Belclin 1 residues, and F270 and F274 are optionally substituted and optionally linked. The compounds may be used to induce autophagy.

Abstract: An autophagy-inducing compound comprises an autophagy-inducing peptide comprising beclin-1 residues 269-283 and a heterologous moiety that promotes therapeutic stability or delivery of the compound. The compound may be used to induce autophagy and in assays with beclin-1 binding partners.

Abstract: An autophagy-inducing compound comprises an autophagy-inducing peptide comprising beclin-1 residues 269-283 and a heterologous moiety that promotes therapeutic stability or delivery of the compound. The compound may be used to induce autophagy and in assays with beclin-1 binding partners.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of diagnosing a predisposition to carcinoma in a subject comprising: a) obtaining a nucleic acid sample from the subject; b) determining whether one or moire of the subject's beclin alleles or regulatory regions to those alleles are deleted or different from the wild type so as to reduce the subject's expression of polypeptide having tumor suppressor activity; and c) determining whether one or more of the subject's beclin alleles or regulatory regions to those alleles are deleted or changed so as to reduce the subject's ability to mediate autophagey. This invention also provides uses of beclin for treating viral diseases. This invention provides a method for inhibiting viral replication comprising contacting effective amount of Beclin with the virus infected cell, thereby inhibiting the viral replication.

Abstract: This invention provides for an isolated nucleic acid which encodes a wildtype human Beclin and a mutant human Beclin. This invention also provides a vector containing the isolated nucleic acid which encodes a wildtype human Beclin. This invention also provides for a method of producing a wildtype human Beclin. This invention also provides for a purified, wildtype human Beclin. This invention also provides for a method for determining whether a subject has a predisposition for cancer. This invention also provides a method for determining whether a subject has cancer. This invention also provides for a method for inhibiting cell proliferation in cells unable to regulate themselves. This invention also provides for a method for treating a subject who has cancer. This invention also provides for a pharmaceutical composition composed of the and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. This invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition composed of the wildtype human Beclin.