The TAT-BECLIN-1 (autophagy activator) peptide is derived from a region of the autophagy protein, beclin 1, attached to the HIV-1 Tat protein transduction domain. The peptide includes 11 amino acids at the N terminus derived from the Tat protein transduction domain, 18 amino acids (267–284 aa) from beclin 1 at the C terminus and a GG linker.
The TAT-BECLIN-1 (autophagy activator) peptide reduces the accumulation of polyglutamine aggregates and pathogen replication in vitro. This peptide is also found to reduce the mortality of mice infected by different viruses. The TAT-BECLIN-1 peptide is predicted to stimulate cell death via autophagy.
