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Cells Feb 2023Autophagy-the lysosomal degradation of cytoplasm-plays a central role in cellular homeostasis and protects cells from potentially harmful agents that may accumulate in... (Review)
Review
Autophagy-the lysosomal degradation of cytoplasm-plays a central role in cellular homeostasis and protects cells from potentially harmful agents that may accumulate in the cytoplasm, including pathogens, protein aggregates, and dysfunctional organelles. This process is initiated by the formation of a phagophore membrane, which wraps around a portion of cytoplasm or cargo and closes to form a double-membrane autophagosome. Upon the fusion of the autophagosome with a lysosome, the sequestered material is degraded by lysosomal hydrolases in the resulting autolysosome. Several alternative membrane sources of autophagosomes have been proposed, including the plasma membrane, endosomes, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, lipid droplets, hybrid organelles, and de novo synthesis. Here, we review recent progress in our understanding of how the autophagosome is formed and highlight the proposed role of vesicles that contain the lipid scramblase ATG9 as potential seeds for phagophore biogenesis. We also discuss how the phagophore is sealed by the action of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) proteins.
Topics: Autophagosomes; Macroautophagy; Autophagy; Endosomes; Cell Membrane
PubMed: 36831335
DOI: 10.3390/cells12040668 -
Cell Research Sep 2021Degrading pathogenic proteins by degrader technologies such as PROTACs (proteolysis-targeting chimeras) provides promising therapeutic strategies, but selective...
Degrading pathogenic proteins by degrader technologies such as PROTACs (proteolysis-targeting chimeras) provides promising therapeutic strategies, but selective degradation of non-protein pathogenic biomolecules has been challenging. Here, we demonstrate a novel strategy to degrade non-protein biomolecules by autophagy-tethering compounds (ATTECs), using lipid droplets (LDs) as an exemplar target. LDs are ubiquitous cellular structures storing lipids and could be degraded by autophagy. We hypothesized that compounds interacting with both the LDs and the key autophagosome protein LC3 may enhance autophagic degradation of LDs. We designed and synthesized such compounds by connecting LC3-binding molecules to LD-binding probes via a linker. These compounds were capable of clearing LDs almost completely and rescued LD-related phenotypes in cells and in two independent mouse models with hepatic lipidosis. We further confirmed that the mechanism of action of these compounds was mediated through LC3 and autophagic degradation. Our proof-of-concept study demonstrates the capability of degrading LDs by ATTECs. Conceptually, this strategy could be applied to other protein and non-protein targets.
Topics: Animals; Autophagosomes; Autophagy; Chimera; Lipid Droplets; Lipid Metabolism; Mice; Proteins
PubMed: 34239073
DOI: 10.1038/s41422-021-00532-7 -
The Journal of Cell Biology Jun 2022The endolysosome system plays central roles in both autophagic degradation and secretory pathways, including the release of extracellular vesicles and particles (EVPs)....
The endolysosome system plays central roles in both autophagic degradation and secretory pathways, including the release of extracellular vesicles and particles (EVPs). Although previous work reveals important interconnections between autophagy and EVP-mediated secretion, our understanding of these secretory events during endolysosome inhibition remains incomplete. Here, we delineate a secretory autophagy pathway upregulated in response to endolysosomal inhibition, which mediates EVP-associated release of autophagic cargo receptors, including p62/SQSTM1. This secretion is highly regulated and dependent on multiple ATGs required for autophagosome formation, as well as the small GTPase Rab27a. Furthermore, disrupting autophagosome maturation, either via genetic inhibition of autophagosome-to-autolysosome fusion or expression of SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a, is sufficient to induce EVP secretion of autophagy cargo receptors. Finally, ATG-dependent EVP secretion buffers against the intracellular accumulation of autophagy cargo receptors when classical autophagic degradation is impaired. Thus, we propose secretory autophagy via EVPs functions as an alternate route to clear sequestered material and maintain proteostasis during endolysosomal dysfunction or impaired autophagosome maturation.
Topics: Autophagosomes; Autophagy; Extracellular Vesicles; Humans; Lysosomes; Proteostasis; SARS-CoV-2; Sequestosome-1 Protein; Viroporin Proteins; rab27 GTP-Binding Proteins
PubMed: 35446347
DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202110151 -
Cell Oct 2022The mechanism that initiates autophagosome formation on the ER in multicellular organisms is elusive. Here, we showed that autophagy stimuli trigger Ca transients on the...
The mechanism that initiates autophagosome formation on the ER in multicellular organisms is elusive. Here, we showed that autophagy stimuli trigger Ca transients on the outer surface of the ER membrane, whose amplitude, frequency, and duration are controlled by the metazoan-specific ER transmembrane autophagy protein EPG-4/EI24. Persistent Ca transients/oscillations on the cytosolic ER surface in EI24-depleted cells cause accumulation of FIP200 autophagosome initiation complexes on the ER. This defect is suppressed by attenuating ER Ca transients. Multi-modal SIM analysis revealed that Ca transients on the ER trigger the formation of dynamic and fusion-prone liquid-like FIP200 puncta. Starvation-induced Ca transients on lysosomes also induce FIP200 puncta that further move to the ER. Multiple FIP200 puncta on the ER, whose association depends on the ER proteins VAPA/B and ATL2/3, assemble into autophagosome formation sites. Thus, Ca transients are crucial for triggering phase separation of FIP200 to specify autophagosome initiation sites in metazoans.
Topics: Animals; Autophagosomes; Calcium; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Autophagy-Related Proteins; Autophagy; Cell Cycle Proteins
PubMed: 36198318
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.09.001 -
The EMBO Journal Apr 2023The cGAS-STING pathway plays an important role in host defense by sensing pathogen DNA, inducing type I IFNs, and initiating autophagy. However, the molecular mechanism...
The cGAS-STING pathway plays an important role in host defense by sensing pathogen DNA, inducing type I IFNs, and initiating autophagy. However, the molecular mechanism of autophagosome formation in cGAS-STING pathway-induced autophagy is still unclear. Here, we report that STING directly interacts with WIPI2, which is the key protein for LC3 lipidation in autophagy. Binding to WIPI2 is necessary for STING-induced autophagosome formation but does not affect STING activation and intracellular trafficking. In addition, the specific interaction between STING and the PI3P-binding motif of WIPI2 leads to the competition of WIPI2 binding between STING and PI3P, and mutual inhibition between STING-induced autophagy and canonical PI3P-dependent autophagy. Furthermore, we show that the STING-WIPI2 interaction is required for the clearance of cytoplasmic DNA and the attenuation of cGAS-STING signaling. Thus, the direct interaction between STING and WIPI2 enables STING to bypass the canonical upstream machinery to induce LC3 lipidation and autophagosome formation.
Topics: Autophagosomes; Autophagy; DNA; Membrane Proteins; Nucleotidyltransferases; Humans
PubMed: 36872914
DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022112387 -
Nature Communications Mar 2023Adipocytes robustly synthesize fatty acids (FA) from carbohydrate through the de novo lipogenesis (DNL) pathway, yet surprisingly DNL contributes little to their...
Adipocytes robustly synthesize fatty acids (FA) from carbohydrate through the de novo lipogenesis (DNL) pathway, yet surprisingly DNL contributes little to their abundant triglyceride stored in lipid droplets. This conundrum raises the hypothesis that adipocyte DNL instead enables membrane expansions to occur in processes like autophagy, which requires an abundant supply of phospholipids. We report here that adipocyte Fasn deficiency in vitro and in vivo markedly impairs autophagy, evident by autophagosome accumulation and severely compromised degradation of the autophagic substrate p62. Our data indicate the impairment occurs at the level of autophagosome-lysosome fusion, and indeed, loss of Fasn decreases certain membrane phosphoinositides necessary for autophagosome and lysosome maturation and fusion. Autophagy dependence on FA produced by Fasn is not fully alleviated by exogenous FA in cultured adipocytes, and interestingly, imaging studies reveal that Fasn colocalizes with nascent autophagosomes. Together, our studies identify DNL as a critical source of FAs to fuel autophagosome and lysosome maturation and fusion in adipocytes.
Topics: Lipogenesis; Autophagosomes; Adipocytes; Fatty Acids; Autophagy; Lysosomes
PubMed: 36914626
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37016-8 -
Autophagy Aug 2021TMEM41B and VMP1, two endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident transmembrane proteins, play important roles in regulating the formation of lipid droplets (LDs), autophagy... (Review)
Review
TMEM41B and VMP1, two endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident transmembrane proteins, play important roles in regulating the formation of lipid droplets (LDs), autophagy initiation, and viral infection. However, the biochemical functions of TMEM41B and VMP1 are unclear. A lipids distribution screen suggested TMEM41B and VMP1 are critical to the normal distribution of cholesterol and phosphatidylserine. Biochemical analyses unveiled that TMEM41B and VMP1 have scramblase activity. These findings shed light on the mechanism by which TMEM41B and VMP1 regulate LD formation, lipids distribution, macroautophagy, and viral infection.
Topics: Animals; Autophagosomes; Autophagy; Humans; Macroautophagy; Membrane Proteins; Phospholipid Transfer Proteins
PubMed: 34074213
DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2021.1937898 -
Autophagy Jul 2023Macroautophagy/autophagy has been shown to exert a dual role in cancer i.e., promoting cell survival or cell death depending on the cellular context and the cancer...
Macroautophagy/autophagy has been shown to exert a dual role in cancer i.e., promoting cell survival or cell death depending on the cellular context and the cancer stage. Therefore, development of potent autophagy modulators, with a clear mechanistic understanding of their target action, has paramount importance in both mechanistic and clinical studies. In the process of exploring the mechanism of action of a previously identified cytotoxic small molecule (SM15) designed to target microtubules and the interaction domain of microtubules and the kinetochore component NDC80/HEC1, we discovered that the molecule acts as a potent autophagy inhibitor. By using several biochemical and cell biology assays we demonstrated that SM15 blocks basal autophagic flux by inhibiting the fusion of correctly formed autophagosomes with lysosomes. SM15-induced autophagic flux blockage promoted apoptosis-mediated cell death associated with ROS production. Interestingly, autophagic flux blockage, apoptosis induction and ROS production were rescued by genetic or pharmacological inhibition of OGT (O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) transferase) or by expressing an O-GlcNAcylation-defective mutant of the SNARE fusion complex component SNAP29, pointing to SNAP29 as the molecular target of SM15 in autophagy. Accordingly, SM15 was found to enhance SNAP29 O-GlcNAcylation and, thereby, inhibit the formation of the SNARE fusion complex. In conclusion, these findings identify a new pathway in autophagy connecting O-GlcNAcylated SNAP29 to autophagic flux blockage and autophagosome accumulation, that, in turn, drives ROS production and apoptotic cell death. Consequently, modulation of SNAP29 activity may represent a new opportunity for therapeutic intervention in cancer and other autophagy-associated diseases.
Topics: Autophagosomes; Autophagy; Macroautophagy; Reactive Oxygen Species; Lysosomes; SNARE Proteins; Apoptosis
PubMed: 36704963
DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2023.2170962 -
Autophagy Jan 2023SCFD1 (sec1 family domain containing 1) was recently shown to function in autophagosome-lysosome fusion, and multiple studies have demonstrated the regulatory impacts of...
SCFD1 (sec1 family domain containing 1) was recently shown to function in autophagosome-lysosome fusion, and multiple studies have demonstrated the regulatory impacts of acetylation (a post-translational modification) on macroautophagy/autophagy. Here, we demonstrate that both acetylation- and phosphorylation-dependent mechanisms control SCFD1's function in autophagosome-lysosome fusion. After detecting a decrease in the extent of SCFD1 acetylation under autophagy-stimulated conditions, we found that KAT2B/PCAF catalyzes the acetylation of residues K126 and K515 of SCFD1; we also showed that these two residues are deacetylated by SIRT4. Importantly, we showed that AMPK-controlled SCFD1 phosphorylation strongly disrupts the capacity of SCFD1 to interact with KAT2B, thus ensuring that the SCFD1 acetylation level remains low. Finally, we demonstrated that SCFD1 acetylation inhibits autophagic flux, specifically by blocking STX17-SNAP29-VAMP8 SNARE complex formation. Thus, our study reveals a mechanism through which phosphorylation and acetylation modifications of SCFD1 mediate SNARE complex formation to regulate autophagosome maturation.ACLY: ATP citrate lyase; CREB: cAMP responsive element binding protein; EBSS: nutrient-deprivation medium; EP300: E1A binding protein p300; KAT5/TIP60: lysine acetyltransferase 5; HOPS: homotypic fusion and protein sorting; MS: mass spectroscopy; SCFD1: sec1 family domain containing 1; SM: Sec1/Munc18; SNARE: soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor; UVRAG: UV radiation resistance associated.
Topics: Autophagy; Autophagosomes; Macroautophagy; Acetylation; Lysosomes; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; SNARE Proteins; Membrane Fusion
PubMed: 35465820
DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2022.2064624 -
Autophagy Dec 2023Macroautophagy/autophagy and lipid droplet (LD) biology are intricately linked, with autophagosome-dependent degradation of LDs in response to different signals. LDs...
Macroautophagy/autophagy and lipid droplet (LD) biology are intricately linked, with autophagosome-dependent degradation of LDs in response to different signals. LDs play crucial roles in forming autophagosomes possibly by providing essential lipids and serving as a supportive autophagosome assembly platform at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-LD interface. LDs and autophagosomes share common proteins, such as VPS13, ATG2, ZFYVE1/DFCP1, and ATG14, but their dual functions remain poorly understood. In our recent study, we found that prolonged starvation leads to ATG3 localizing to large LDs and lipidating LC3B, revealing a non-canonical autophagic role on LDs. In vitro, ATG3 associates with purified and artificial LDs, and conjugated Atg8-family proteins. In long-term starved cells, only LC3B is found on the specific large LDs, positioned near LC3B-positive membranes that undergo lysosome-mediated acidification. This implies that LD-lipidated LC3B acts as a tethering factor, connecting phagophores to LDs and promoting degradation. Our data also support the notion that certain LD surfaces may function as lipidation stations for LC3B, which may move to nearby sites of autophagosome formation. Overall, our study unveils an unknown non-canonical implication of LDs in autophagy processes. ATG: autophagy-related enzyme, ATP: adenosine triphosphate, E2 enzyme: ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, ER: endoplasmic reticulum, LD: lipid droplet, LIR motif: LC3-interacting region, MAP1LC3B/LC3B: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta, PE: phosphatidylethanolamine, PLIN1: perilipin 1, PNPLA2/ATGL: patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 2, SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1, VSP13: vacuolar protein sorting 13, ZFYVE1/DFCP1: zinc finger, FYVE domain containing 1.
Topics: Autophagy; Lipid Droplets; Autophagosomes; Autophagy-Related Protein 8 Family; Autophagy-Related Proteins
PubMed: 37599471
DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2023.2249390