Erratum: Spencer et al., “Beclin 1 Gene Transfer Activates Autophagy and Ameliorates the Neurodegenerative Pathology in α-Synuclein Models of Parkinson's and Lewy Body Diseases”

In the article “Beclin 1 Gene Transfer Activates Autophagy and Ameliorates the Neurodegenerative Pathology in α-Synuclein Models of Parkinson's and Lewy Body Diseases,” by Brian Spencer, Rewati Potkar, Margarita Trejo, Edward Rockenstein, Christina Patrick, Ryan Gindi, Anthony Adame, Tony Wyss-Coray, and Eliezer Masliah, on pages 13578–13588 in the October 28, 2009, issue, there were similarities in the Western blots depicted in the α-syn and β-syn Lamp 2 lanes of Figure 1E, in the 70 and 56 MW bands of Figure 2F, and repeats in the corner of the electron micrographs that appeared in Figure 2B–D. Additionally, an incorrect image was included for Figure 8G, which overlaps with Figure 6H in the article by Spencer et al. (2008).

The authors provided the following explanation for the errors:

In Figure 2B–D, there appear to be a subtle micro-repeat right next to the figure label in the electron micrographs. We do not exactly how this problem occurred, however given that the issue occurred next to the letter identifying the figure and that we found a previous version of the figure where the letters were different, it is possible that this irregularity occurred while changing the letters.

In Figure 8G the panel representing the synaptophysin immunostained terminals is similar to the Figure 6H in Spencer et al. (2008). We deeply regret this error. It is difficult to identify after so many years how this inadvertent mix-up among images representing similar immunostaining occurred. Although the publication is different by one year the work was done about the same time. After careful reinspection of the images for Figure 8G we found that we have the correct panel for this condition. We have also communicated with BMC Neuroscience about this. We have also reached out to Brain Structure and Function, where another similarity appeared between this image and Figure 5D in Crews et al. (2010). These images were for illustration purposes only; the analysis was done separately.

In Figure 1E western blot the lanes that appear similar between a-synuclein and β-synuclein for Lamp2. Unfortunately, given the time elapsed it is difficult to reconstruct exactly how this problem occurred. It is possible that a mistake was made when re-organizing the lanes and accidentally repeating these two lanes. Alternatively, it has been described that artifacts with the blotting apparatus can occur where depending on the similarity of the samples, the loading and conditions, bands could look very similar. We realize that this should not have occurred and deeply apologize for the mistake, this panel was for illustration purposes only, this mistake does not change or modify the results or conclusions showing that no differences are seen between the groups.

The corrected Figures 2 and 8 appear below. Regarding Figure 1E, the editors have reviewed the findings and concur that while there does appear to be duplication present in the Western blot lanes, the errors do not affect the conclusions of the paper, and the findings of the article stand without this piece of data.

Figure 2.

Figure 8.