Autophagy and apoptosis are fundamental cellular pathways that are both regulated by JNK-mediated Bcl-2 phosphorylation. Several years ago, JNK-mediated Bcl-2 phosphorylation was shown to interfere with its binding to pro-apoptotic BH3 domain-containing proteins such as Bax and recently, our laboratory demonstrated that JNK1-mediated Bcl-2 phosphorylation interferes with its binding to the pro-autophagy BH3 domain-containing protein Beclin 1. Here, we examined the kinetic relationship between Bcl-2 phosphorylation, Bcl-2-Beclin 1 interactions, Bcl-2-Bax interactions and caspase 3 activation during nutrient starvation. We found that after a short period of nutrient deprivation (4 hours), a small amount of Bcl-2 phosphorylation dissociates Bcl-2 from the Bcl-2-Beclin 1 complex but not from the Bcl-2-Bax complex. After 16 hours of nutrient deprivation, Bcl-2 phosphorylation reaches maximal levels, the Bcl-2-Bax complex is disrupted, and active caspase 3 is detected, indicating the initiation of apoptosis. Based on this result, we propose a speculative model for understanding the interrelationship between autophagy and apoptosis regulated by JNK1-mediated Bcl-2 phosphorylation. According to this model, rapid Bcl-2 phosphorylation may occur initially to promote cell survival by disrupting the Bcl-2-Beclin 1 complex and activating autophagy. At a certain point when autophagy is no longer able to keep the cell alive, Bcl-2 phosphorylation might then serve to inactivate its anti-apoptotic function.

Addendum to: Wei Y, Pattingre S, Sinha S, Bassik M, Levine B. JNK1-mediated phosphorylation of Bcl-2 regulates starvation-induced autophagy. Mol Cell 2008; 30:678-88.