Given the importance of both beclin 1 and TGF-β signaling to neuronal survival, their disruption in neurodegenerative disease, the ability of beclin 1 to regulate receptor recycling in other contexts, and its localization to endosomes, we hypothesized that beclin 1 may regulate TGF-β receptor sorting and therefore support neuronal survival by regulating signaling through this pathway. The gene discussed is BECN1; the disease is neurodegenerative disease.