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The Journal of Cell Biology Dec 2023Autophagy is a lysosomal/vacuolar delivery system that degrades cytoplasmic material. During autophagy, autophagosomes deliver cellular components to the vacuole,...
Autophagy is a lysosomal/vacuolar delivery system that degrades cytoplasmic material. During autophagy, autophagosomes deliver cellular components to the vacuole, resulting in the release of a cargo-containing autophagic body (AB) into the vacuole. AB membranes must be disrupted for degradation of cargo to occur. The lipase Atg15 and vacuolar proteases Pep4 and Prb1 are known to be necessary for this disruption and cargo degradation, but the mechanistic underpinnings remain unclear. In this study, we establish a system to detect lipase activity in the vacuole and show that Atg15 is the sole vacuolar phospholipase. Pep4 and Prb1 are required for the activation of Atg15 lipase function, which occurs following delivery of Atg15 to the vacuole by the MVB pathway. In vitro experiments reveal that Atg15 is a phospholipase B of broad substrate specificity that is likely implicated in the disruption of a range of membranes. Further, we use isolated ABs to demonstrate that Atg15 alone is able to disrupt AB membranes.
Topics: Autophagosomes; Autophagy; Lipase; Vacuoles; Autophagy-Related Proteins; Cell Membrane; Phospholipases
PubMed: 37917025
DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202306120 -
Nature Communications Sep 2023In autophagy, a membrane cisterna called the isolation membrane expands, bends, becomes spherical, and closes to sequester cytoplasmic constituents into the resulting...
In autophagy, a membrane cisterna called the isolation membrane expands, bends, becomes spherical, and closes to sequester cytoplasmic constituents into the resulting double-membrane vesicle autophagosome for lysosomal/vacuolar degradation. Here, we discover a mechanism that allows the isolation membrane to expand with a large opening to ensure non-selective cytoplasm sequestration within the autophagosome. A sorting nexin complex that localizes to the opening edge of the isolation membrane plays a critical role in this process. Without the complex, the isolation membrane expands with a small opening that prevents the entry of particles larger than about 25 nm, including ribosomes and proteasomes, although autophagosomes of nearly normal size eventually form. This study sheds light on membrane morphogenesis during autophagosome formation and selectivity in autophagic degradation.
Topics: Autophagy; Autophagosomes; Cytosol; Macroautophagy; Ribosomes
PubMed: 37726301
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41525-x -
Molecular Cancer Jan 2024Eukaryotic cells engage in autophagy, an internal process of self-degradation through lysosomes. Autophagy can be classified as selective or non-selective depending on... (Review)
Review
Eukaryotic cells engage in autophagy, an internal process of self-degradation through lysosomes. Autophagy can be classified as selective or non-selective depending on the way it chooses to degrade substrates. During the process of selective autophagy, damaged and/or redundant organelles like mitochondria, peroxisomes, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), lysosomes, nuclei, proteasomes, and lipid droplets are selectively recycled. Specific cargo is delivered to autophagosomes by specific receptors, isolated and engulfed. Selective autophagy dysfunction is closely linked with cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders, heart failure, etc. Through reviewing latest research, this review summarized molecular markers and important signaling pathways for selective autophagy, and its significant role in cancers. Moreover, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of small-molecule compounds targeting selective autophagy for their potential application in anti-tumor therapy, elucidating the underlying mechanisms involved. This review aims to supply important scientific references and development directions for the biological mechanisms and drug discovery of anti-tumor targeting selective autophagy in the future.
Topics: Humans; Autophagy; Neoplasms; Autophagosomes; Cell Nucleus; Drug Discovery
PubMed: 38262996
DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-01934-y -
International Journal of Oral Science Sep 2023While several previous studies have indicated the link between periodontal disease (PD) and myocardial infarction (MI), the underlying mechanisms remain unclear....
While several previous studies have indicated the link between periodontal disease (PD) and myocardial infarction (MI), the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Autophagy, a cellular quality control process that is activated in several diseases, including heart failure, can be suppressed by Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g.). However, it is uncertain whether autophagy impairment by periodontal pathogens stimulates the development of cardiac dysfunction after MI. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between PD and the development of MI while focusing on the role of autophagy. Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) and MI model mice were inoculated with wild-type P.g. or gingipain-deficient P.g. to assess the effect of autophagy inhibition by P.g. Wild-type P.g.-inoculated NRCMs had lower cell viability than those inoculated with gingipain-deficient P.g. This study also revealed that gingipains can cleave vesicle-associated membrane protein 8 (VAMP8), a protein involved in lysosomal sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs), at the 47th lysine residue, thereby inhibiting autophagy. Wild-type P.g.-inoculated MI model mice were more susceptible to cardiac rupture, with lower survival rates and autophagy activity than gingipain-deficient P.g.-inoculated MI model mice. After inoculating genetically modified MI model mice (VAMP8-K47A) with wild-type P.g., they exhibited significantly increased autophagy activation compared with the MI model mice inoculated with wild-type P.g., which suppressed cardiac rupture and enhanced overall survival rates. These findings suggest that gingipains, which are virulence factors of P.g., impair the infarcted myocardium by cleaving VAMP8 and disrupting autophagy. This study confirms the strong association between PD and MI and provides new insights into the potential role of autophagy in this relationship.
Topics: Mice; Rats; Animals; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Gingipain Cysteine Endopeptidases; Autophagosomes; Myocardium; Periodontal Diseases; Heart Rupture
PubMed: 37723152
DOI: 10.1038/s41368-023-00251-2 -
Acta Neuropathologica Mar 2024Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder of genetic etiology, characterized by paternal deletion of genes located at chromosome 15 in 70% of...
Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder of genetic etiology, characterized by paternal deletion of genes located at chromosome 15 in 70% of cases. Two distinct genetic subtypes of PWS deletions are characterized, where type I (PWS T1) carries four extra haploinsufficient genes compared to type II (PWS T2). PWS T1 individuals display more pronounced physiological and cognitive abnormalities than PWS T2, yet the exact neuropathological mechanisms behind these differences remain unclear. Our study employed postmortem hypothalamic tissues from PWS T1 and T2 individuals, conducting transcriptomic analyses and cell-specific protein profiling in white matter, neurons, and glial cells to unravel the cellular and molecular basis of phenotypic severity in PWS sub-genotypes. In PWS T1, key pathways for cell structure, integrity, and neuronal communication are notably diminished, while glymphatic system activity is heightened compared to PWS T2. The microglial defect in PWS T1 appears to stem from gene haploinsufficiency, as global and myeloid-specific Cyfip1 haploinsufficiency in murine models demonstrated. Our findings emphasize microglial phagolysosome dysfunction and altered neural communication as crucial contributors to the severity of PWS T1's phenotype.
Topics: Humans; Mice; Animals; Prader-Willi Syndrome; Microglia; Carrier Proteins; Phenotype; Phagosomes; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
PubMed: 38556574
DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02714-0 -
Communications Biology Oct 2023Phagosome maturation is critical for immune defense, defining whether ingested material is destroyed or converted into antigens. Sec22b regulates phagosome maturation,...
Phagosome maturation is critical for immune defense, defining whether ingested material is destroyed or converted into antigens. Sec22b regulates phagosome maturation, yet how has remained unclear. Here we show Sec22b tethers endoplasmic reticulum-phagosome membrane contact sites (MCS) independently of the known tether STIM1. Sec22b knockdown increases calcium signaling, phagolysosome fusion and antigen degradation and alters phagosomal phospholipids PI(3)P, PS and PI(4)P. Levels of PI(4)P, a lysosome docking lipid, are rescued by Sec22b re-expression and by expression of the artificial tether MAPPER but not the MCS-disrupting mutant Sec22b-P33. Moreover, Sec22b co-precipitates with the PS/PI(4)P exchange protein ORP8. Wild-type, but not mutant ORP8 rescues phagosomal PI(4)P and reduces antigen degradation. Sec22b, MAPPER and ORP8 but not P33 or mutant-ORP8 restores phagolysosome fusion in knockdown cells. These findings clarify an alternative mechanism through which Sec22b controls phagosome maturation and beg a reassessment of the relative contribution of Sec22b-mediated fusion versus tethering to phagosome biology.
Topics: Phagosomes; Phagocytosis; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates
PubMed: 37794132
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05382-0 -
Journal of Thoracic Disease Oct 2023Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a disorder that affects the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Without properly functioning CFTR channels, chloride does... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a disorder that affects the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Without properly functioning CFTR channels, chloride does not exit respiratory epithelial cells, and consequently the mucus lining the surface of the cells becomes thick. This viscous mucus accumulates and causes abnormal function of the mucociliary apparatus, which can lead to bacterial colonization, infections with () and (), and eventually lung damage. Recent studies have shown that the increased susceptibility to respiratory infections in CF patients may also be due to defects in neutrophil function, but the exact mechanism is uncertain.
METHODS
The PubMed database was searched on February 10, 2023 and again on July 23, 2023 to compile a comprehensive list of clinical and experimental studies to evaluate neutrophil function in CF. The first search included a combination of MeSH terms: "cystic fibrosis" and "neutrophils/physiology". A separate second search included a combination of the MeSH terms: "neutrophils" and "cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator".
KEY CONTENT AND FINDINGS
Neutrophils from patients with CF have decreased transfer of chloride into phagolysosomes after bacterial ingestion and have dysregulated degranulation. This reduces the production of toxic oxidative radicals, especially hypochlorous acid (HOCl), and reduces bactericidal activity. CFTR potentiators correct the dysregulated degranulation in patients with CF and increased neutrophil killing activity. A reduced concentration of chloride in assays also reduces neutrophil killing activity; these observations are relevant to the reduced chloride concentrations in respiratory secretions in patients with CF.
CONCLUSIONS
This literature review summarizes studies that demonstrate that an important defect in CF neutrophils lies in the oxygen-dependent pathway in phagolysosomes and studies with ivacaftor demonstrate that this drug corrects CF neutrophil function. These studies demonstrate the potential utility of using easily available neutrophils to study drug effects in CF patients.
PubMed: 37969285
DOI: 10.21037/jtd-23-846 -
ELife Jul 2023The ubiquitin-like proteins Atg8/LC3/GABARAP are required for multiple steps of autophagy, such as initiation, cargo recognition and engulfment, vesicle closure and...
The ubiquitin-like proteins Atg8/LC3/GABARAP are required for multiple steps of autophagy, such as initiation, cargo recognition and engulfment, vesicle closure and degradation. Most of LC3/GABARAP functions are considered dependent on their post-translational modifications and their association with the autophagosome membrane through a conjugation to a lipid, the phosphatidyl-ethanolamine. Contrarily to mammals, possesses single homologs of LC3 and GABARAP families, named LGG-2 and LGG-1. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we inhibited the conjugation of LGG-1 to the autophagosome membrane and generated mutants that express only cytosolic forms, either the precursor or the cleaved protein. LGG-1 is an essential gene for autophagy and development in , but we discovered that its functions could be fully achieved independently of its localization to the membrane. This study reveals an essential role for the cleaved form of LGG-1 in autophagy but also in an autophagy-independent embryonic function. Our data question the use of lipidated GABARAP/LC3 as the main marker of autophagic flux and highlight the high plasticity of autophagy.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Caenorhabditis elegans; Microtubule-Associated Proteins; Autophagy; Autophagosomes; Phagocytosis; Mammals; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
PubMed: 37395461
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.85748 -
Cell Death & Disease Aug 2023Accumulating evidence has shown that the quality of proteins must be tightly monitored and controlled to maintain cellular proteostasis. Misfolded proteins and protein...
Accumulating evidence has shown that the quality of proteins must be tightly monitored and controlled to maintain cellular proteostasis. Misfolded proteins and protein aggregates are targeted for degradation through the ubiquitin proteasome (UPS) and autophagy-lysosome systems. The ubiquitination and deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) have been reported to play pivotal roles in the regulation of the UPS system. However, the function of DUBs in the regulation of autophagy remain to be elucidated. In this study, we found that knockdown of Leon/USP5 caused a marked increase in the formation of autophagosomes and autophagic flux under well-fed conditions. Genetic analysis revealed that overexpression of Leon suppressed Atg1-induced cell death in Drosophila. Immunoblotting assays further showed a strong interaction between Leon/USP5 and the autophagy initiating kinase Atg1/ULK1. Depletion of Leon/USP5 led to increased levels of Atg1/ULK1. Our findings indicate that Leon/USP5 is an autophagic DUB that interacts with Atg1/ULK1, negatively regulating the autophagic process.
Topics: Animals; Autophagy; Autophagosomes; Cell Death; Drosophila; Lysosomes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Ubiquitin; Deubiquitinating Enzymes; Autophagy-Related Protein-1 Homolog; Drosophila Proteins; Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases
PubMed: 37607937
DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06062-x -
Function (Oxford, England) 2024The skeletal system is crucial for supporting bodily functions, protecting vital organs, facilitating hematopoiesis, and storing essential minerals. Skeletal... (Review)
Review
The skeletal system is crucial for supporting bodily functions, protecting vital organs, facilitating hematopoiesis, and storing essential minerals. Skeletal homeostasis, which includes aspects such as bone density, structural integrity, and regenerative processes, is essential for normal skeletal function. Autophagy, an intricate intracellular mechanism for degrading and recycling cellular components, plays a multifaceted role in bone metabolism. It involves sequestering cellular waste, damaged proteins, and organelles within autophagosomes, which are then degraded and recycled. Autophagy's impact on bone health varies depending on factors such as regulation, cell type, environmental cues, and physiological context. Despite being traditionally considered a cytoplasmic process, autophagy is subject to transcriptional and epigenetic regulation within the nucleus. However, the precise influence of epigenetic regulation, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA expression, on cellular fate remains incompletely understood. The interplay between autophagy and epigenetic modifications adds complexity to bone cell regulation. This article provides an in-depth exploration of the intricate interplay between these two regulatory paradigms, with a focus on the epigenetic control of autophagy in bone metabolism. Such an understanding enhances our knowledge of bone metabolism-related disorders and offers insights for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies.
Topics: Humans; Epigenesis, Genetic; Autophagy; Homeostasis; Autophagosomes; Bone Density; Bone Diseases, Metabolic
PubMed: 38486976
DOI: 10.1093/function/zqae004