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Journal of Molecular Biology Apr 2020Macroautophagy is a conserved catabolic process observed in all eukaryotic cells, during which selected cellular components are transported to and broken down within... (Review)
Review
Macroautophagy is a conserved catabolic process observed in all eukaryotic cells, during which selected cellular components are transported to and broken down within lysosomes. The process starts with the capture of unnecessary material into autophagosomes, which is followed by autophagosome-lysosome fusion to generate autolysosomes that degrade the cargo. In the past quarter-century, our knowledge about autophagosome formation almost exponentially increased, while the later steps were much less studied. This fortunately changed in the past few years, with more and more publications focusing on the fate of the completed autophagosome. In this review, we aspire to summarize the current knowledge about the molecular mechanisms of autophagosome-lysosome fusion.
Topics: Animals; Autophagosomes; Autophagy; Humans; Lysosomes; Neurodegenerative Diseases; SNARE Proteins
PubMed: 31682838
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.10.028 -
Protein & Cell Sep 2023Lipophagy, the selective engulfment of lipid droplets (LDs) by autophagosomes for lysosomal degradation, is critical to lipid and energy homeostasis. Here we show that...
Lipophagy, the selective engulfment of lipid droplets (LDs) by autophagosomes for lysosomal degradation, is critical to lipid and energy homeostasis. Here we show that the lipid transfer protein ORP8 is located on LDs and mediates the encapsulation of LDs by autophagosomal membranes. This function of ORP8 is independent of its lipid transporter activity and is achieved through direct interaction with phagophore-anchored LC3/GABARAPs. Upon lipophagy induction, ORP8 has increased localization on LDs and is phosphorylated by AMPK, thereby enhancing its affinity for LC3/GABARAPs. Deletion of ORP8 or interruption of ORP8-LC3/GABARAP interaction results in accumulation of LDs and increased intracellular triglyceride. Overexpression of ORP8 alleviates LD and triglyceride deposition in the liver of ob/ob mice, and Osbpl8-/- mice exhibit liver lipid clearance defects. Our results suggest that ORP8 is a lipophagy receptor that plays a key role in cellular lipid metabolism.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Lipid Droplets; Autophagy; Autophagosomes; Homeostasis; Triglycerides
PubMed: 37707322
DOI: 10.1093/procel/pwac063 -
Autophagy Jan 2020Many diseases are caused by aberrant accumulation of certain proteins that are misfolded and cytotoxic, and lowering the level of these proteins provides promising... (Review)
Review
Many diseases are caused by aberrant accumulation of certain proteins that are misfolded and cytotoxic, and lowering the level of these proteins provides promising treatment strategies for these diseases. We hypothesized that compounds that interact with both the disease-causing protein and the phagophore (autophagosome precursor) protein LC3 may tether the former to phagophores for subsequent autophagic degradation. If true, this uophagosome-thering ompound (ATTEC) concept could be applied to many disease-causing proteins to treat diseases. We tested this hypothesis in the scenario of Huntington disease (HD), a neurodegenerative disorder that is caused by the mutant HTT (mHTT) protein with an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) stretch. In our recent study, we designed a small-molecule microarray-based screening and identified four mHTT-lowering compounds that interact with both mHTT and LC3, but not wild-type (WT) HTT. These compounds target mHTT to phagophores for autophagic degradation without influencing the WT HTT level, and rescue HD-relevant phenotypes in HD cells and in the fly and mouse HD models. Interestingly, these compounds interact with the expanded polyQ stretch directly and are able to reduce other disease-causing proteins with expanded polyQ. In summary, our study provides the initial validation of lowering mHTT by ATTEC, providing entry points to new treatment strategies of HD and similar diseases.
Topics: Animals; Autophagosomes; Autophagy; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Huntingtin Protein; Huntington Disease; Nerve Tissue Proteins
PubMed: 31690177
DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2019.1688556 -
American Journal of Physiology.... Jul 2020Mitochondrial injury in granulosa cells is associated with the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the protective effects of melatonin against...
Mitochondrial injury in granulosa cells is associated with the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the protective effects of melatonin against mitochondrial injury in the granulosa cells of PCOS remain unclear. In this study, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and mtDNA content, increased number of autophagosomes were found in the granulosa cells of PCOS patients and the dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-treated KGN cells, with decreased protein level of the autophagy substrate p62 and increased levels of the cellular autophagy markers Beclin 1 and LC3B-II, while the protein levels of PTEN-induced kinase-1 (PINK1) and Parkin were increased and the level of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) was decreased. DHT-induced PCOS-like mice also showed enhanced mitophagy and decreased mRNA expression. Melatonin treatment significantly increased the protein level of SIRT1 and decreased the levels of PINK1/Parkin, whereas it ameliorated the mitochondrial dysfunction and PCOS phenotype in vitro and in vivo. However, when the KGN cells were treated with siRNA to knock down SIRT1 expression, melatonin treatment failed to repress the excessive mitophagy. In conclusion, melatonin protects against mitochondrial injury in granulosa cells of PCOS by enhancing SIRT1 expression to inhibit excessive PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Antioxidants; Autophagosomes; Autophagy; Beclin-1; Case-Control Studies; Cell Line; DNA, Mitochondrial; Dihydrotestosterone; Female; Granulosa Cells; Humans; Melatonin; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Mice; Microtubule-Associated Proteins; Mitophagy; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Protein Kinases; Sirtuin 1; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
PubMed: 32343612
DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00006.2020 -
The Journal of Cell Biology Jul 2022The stimulator of interferon genes (STING) plays a critical role in innate immunity. Emerging evidence suggests that STING is important for DNA or cGAMP-induced...
The stimulator of interferon genes (STING) plays a critical role in innate immunity. Emerging evidence suggests that STING is important for DNA or cGAMP-induced non-canonical autophagy, which is independent of a large part of canonical autophagy machineries. Here, we report that, in the absence of STING, energy stress-induced autophagy is upregulated rather than downregulated. Depletion of STING in Drosophila fat cells enhances basal- and starvation-induced autophagic flux. During acute exercise, STING knockout mice show increased autophagy flux, exercise endurance, and altered glucose metabolism. Mechanistically, these observations could be explained by the STING-STX17 interaction. STING physically interacts with STX17, a SNARE that is essential for autophagosome biogenesis and autophagosome-lysosome fusion. Energy crisis and TBK1-mediated phosphorylation both disrupt the STING-STX17 interaction, allow different pools of STX17 to translocate to phagophores and mature autophagosomes, and promote autophagic flux. Taken together, we demonstrate a heretofore unexpected function of STING in energy stress-induced autophagy through spatial regulation of autophagic SNARE STX17.
Topics: Animals; Autophagosomes; Autophagy; Drosophila; Energy Metabolism; Lysosomes; Membrane Proteins; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Physical Conditioning, Animal; Qa-SNARE Proteins
PubMed: 35510944
DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202202060 -
Molecular Cell May 2023Cargo sequestration is a fundamental step of selective autophagy in which cells generate a double-membrane structure termed an "autophagosome" on the surface of cargoes....
Cargo sequestration is a fundamental step of selective autophagy in which cells generate a double-membrane structure termed an "autophagosome" on the surface of cargoes. NDP52, TAX1BP1, and p62 bind FIP200, which recruits the ULK1/2 complex to initiate autophagosome formation on cargoes. How OPTN initiates autophagosome formation during selective autophagy remains unknown despite its importance in neurodegeneration. Here, we uncover an unconventional path of PINK1/Parkin mitophagy initiation by OPTN that does not begin with FIP200 binding or require the ULK1/2 kinases. Using gene-edited cell lines and in vitro reconstitutions, we show that OPTN utilizes the kinase TBK1, which binds directly to the class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex I to initiate mitophagy. During NDP52 mitophagy initiation, TBK1 is functionally redundant with ULK1/2, classifying TBK1's role as a selective autophagy-initiating kinase. Overall, this work reveals that OPTN mitophagy initiation is mechanistically distinct and highlights the mechanistic plasticity of selective autophagy pathways.
Topics: Mitophagy; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; Autophagosomes; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; Protein Kinases; Autophagy
PubMed: 37207627
DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.04.021 -
Journal of Molecular Biology Jan 2020Selective autophagy relies on soluble or membrane-bound cargo receptors that recognize cargo and bring about autophagosome formation at the cargo. The cargo-bound... (Review)
Review
Selective autophagy relies on soluble or membrane-bound cargo receptors that recognize cargo and bring about autophagosome formation at the cargo. The cargo-bound receptors interact with lipidated ATG8 family proteins anchored in the membrane at the concave side of the forming autophagosome. The interaction is mediated by 15- to 20-amino-acid-long sequence motifs called LC3-interacting region (LIR) motifs that bind to the LIR docking site (LDS) of ATG8 proteins. In this review, we focus on LIR-ATG8 interactions and the soluble mammalian selective autophagy receptors. We discuss the roles of ATG8 family proteins as membrane scaffolds in autophagy and the LIR-LDS interaction and how specificity for binding to GABARAP or LC3 subfamily proteins is achieved. We also discuss atypical LIR-LDS interactions and a novel LIR-independent interaction. Recently, it has become clear that several of the soluble cargo receptors are able to recruit components of the core autophagy apparatus to aid in assembling autophagosome formation at the site of cargo sequestration. A model on phagophore recruitment and expansion on a selective autophagy receptor-coated cargo incorporating the latest findings is presented.
Topics: Animals; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; Autophagosomes; Autophagy; Autophagy-Related Protein 8 Family; Humans; Macroautophagy; Microtubule-Associated Proteins; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs; Protein Interaction Maps
PubMed: 31310766
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.07.016 -
Developmental Cell Oct 2020In eukaryotic cells, various membrane-bound organelles compartmentalize diverse cellular activities in a spatially and temporally controlled manner. Numerous... (Review)
Review
In eukaryotic cells, various membrane-bound organelles compartmentalize diverse cellular activities in a spatially and temporally controlled manner. Numerous membraneless organelles assembled via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), known as condensates, also facilitate compartmentalization of cellular functions. Emerging evidence shows that these two organelle types interact in many biological processes. Membranes modulate the biogenesis and dynamics of phase-separated condensates by serving as assembly platforms or by forming direct contacts. Phase separation of membrane-associated proteins participates in various trafficking events, such as clustering of vesicles for temporally controlled fusion and storage, and transport of membraneless condensates on membrane-bound organelles. Phase separation also acts in cargo trafficking pathways by sorting and docking cargos for translocon-mediated transport across membranes, by shuttling cargos through the nuclear pore complex, and by triggering the formation of surrounding autophagosomes for delivery to lysosomes. The coordinated actions of membrane-bound and membraneless organelles ensure spatiotemporal control of various cellular functions.
Topics: Autophagosomes; Biology; Biophysical Phenomena; Cell Physiological Phenomena; Humans; Membranes; Organelles
PubMed: 32726575
DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2020.06.033 -
Autophagy Jun 2020Defective macroautophagy/autophagy and mitochondrial dysfunction are known to stimulate senescence. The mitochondrial regulator PPARGC1A (peroxisome proliferator...
UNLABELLED
Defective macroautophagy/autophagy and mitochondrial dysfunction are known to stimulate senescence. The mitochondrial regulator PPARGC1A (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma, coactivator 1 alpha) regulates mitochondrial biogenesis, reducing senescence of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs); however, it is unknown whether autophagy mediates PPARGC1A-protective effects on senescence. Using VSMCs, we identified the autophagy receptor SQSTM1/p62 (sequestosome 1) as a major regulator of autophagy and senescence of VSMCs. Abnormal autophagosomes were observed in VSMCs in aortas of mice. VSMCs in culture presented reductions in LC3-II levels; in autophagosome number; and in the expression of SQSTM1 (protein and mRNA), LAMP2 (lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2), CTSD (cathepsin D), and TFRC (transferrin receptor). Reduced SQSTM1 protein expression was also observed in aortas of mice and was upregulated by PPARGC1A overexpression, suggesting that SQSTM1 is a direct target of PPARGC1A. Inhibition of autophagy by 3-MA (3 methyladenine), spautin-1 or (autophagy related 5) siRNA stimulated senescence. Rapamycin rescued the effect of siRNA in , but not in VSMCs, suggesting that other targets of MTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase), in addition to autophagy, also contribute to senescence. siRNA increased senescence basally and in response to AGT II (angiotensin II) and zinc overload, two known inducers of senescence. Furthermore, gene deficiency mimicked the phenotype of depletion by presenting reduced autophagy and increased senescence and . Thus, PPARGC1A upregulates autophagy reducing senescence by a SQSTM1-dependent mechanism. We propose SQSTM1 as a novel target in therapeutic interventions reducing senescence.
ABBREVIATIONS
3-MA: 3 methyladenine; ACTA2/SM-actin: actin, alpha 2, smooth muscle, aorta; ACTB/β-actin: actin beta; AGT II: angiotensin II; ATG5: autophagy related 5; BECN1: beclin 1; CAT: catalase; CDKN1A: cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (P21); Chl: chloroquine; CTSD: cathepsin D; CYCS: cytochrome C, somatic; DHE: dihydroethidium; DPBS: Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline; EL: elastic lamina; EM: extracellular matrix; FDG: fluorescein-di-β-D-galactopyranoside; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; γH2AFX: phosphorylated H2A histone family, member X, HDCFDA: 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate; LAMP2: lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2; MASMs: mouse vascular smooth muscle cells; MEF: mouse embryonic fibroblast; NBR1: NBR1, autophagy cargo receptor; NFKB/NF-κB: nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells; MTOR: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase; NFE2L2: nuclear factor, erythroid derived 2, like 2; NOX1: NADPH oxidase 1; OPTN: optineurin; PFA: paraformaldehyde; PFU: plaque-forming units; PPARGC1A/PGC-1α: peroxisome proliferator activated receptor, gamma, coactivator 1 alpha; Ptdln3K: phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; RASMs: rat vascular smooth muscle cells; ROS: reactive oxygen species; SA-GLB1/β-gal: senescence-associated galactosidase, beta 1; SASP: senescence-associated secretory phenotype; SIRT1: sirtuin 1; Spautin 1: specific and potent autophagy inhibitor 1; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; SOD: superoxide dismutase; TEM: transmission electron microscopy; TFEB: transcription factor EB; TFRC: transferrin receptor; TRP53/p53: transformation related protein 53; TUBG1: tubulin gamma 1; VSMCs: vascular smooth muscle cells; WT: wild type.
Topics: Animals; Aorta; Autophagosomes; Autophagy; Autophagy-Related Protein 5; Benzylamines; Brain; Cathepsin D; Cellular Senescence; Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 2; Lysosomes; Male; Methylcholanthrene; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; Quinazolines; RNA, Small Interfering; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reactive Oxygen Species; Receptors, Transferrin; Sequestosome-1 Protein; Sirolimus; Up-Regulation
PubMed: 31441382
DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2019.1659612 -
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