Bim Inhibits Autophagy by Recruiting Beclin 1 to Microtubules

Summary

Bim is a proapoptotic BH3-only Bcl-2 family member. In response to death stimuli, Bim dissociates from the dynein light chain 1 (DYNLL1/LC8), where it is inactive, and can then initiate Bax/Bak-mediated mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. We found that Bim depletion increases autophagosome synthesis in cells and in vivo, and this effect is inhibited by overexpression of cell death-deficient Bim. Bim inhibits autophagy by interacting with Beclin 1, an autophagy regulator, and this interaction is facilitated by LC8. Bim bridges the Beclin 1-LC8 interaction and thereby inhibits autophagy by mislocalizing Beclin 1 to the dynein motor complex. Starvation, an autophagic stimulus, induces Bim phosphorylation, which abrogates LC8 binding to Bim, leading to dissociation of Bim and Beclin 1. Our data suggest that Bim switches locations between apoptosis-inactive/autophagy-inhibitory and apoptosis-active/autophagy-permissive sites.

Abstract

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

► Bim negatively regulates autophagy in cell culture and in vivo ► Bim inhibits autophagosome formation by interacting with Beclin 1 ► Bim inhibits autophagy by mislocalizing Beclin 1 from the ER to microtubules ► Starvation induces autophagy and dissociates the Bim-Beclin1 interaction