Articles tagged with Autophagy
Scientists have discovered an additional source of genetic mutations that cause rare conditions like Huntington's disease. Expanded CAG repeat RNA can form aggregates that reduce global protein synthesis and lead to neurotoxicity.
Researchers reveal a crucial link between DNA copy number and autophagy in embryonic development. High levels of autophagy are observed in cells with multiple copies of DNA, which can lead to programmed cell death.
A new study reveals that Salmonella uses a two-pronged approach to protect itself within the host's defense mechanisms, involving protein SopB. By altering phosphoinositide dynamics and preventing lysosome production, SopB allows the bacteria to survive inside macrophages.
Scientists have rebuilt the complex nanomachine in the laboratory that starts autophagy, revealing its sophisticated cellular mechanism. The study's findings could help develop future drugs to treat diseases based on a faulty autophagy process.
Researchers discovered that air pollution particles trigger autophagy, a cellular defense process, which has an upper threshold and may reduce its effectiveness against other threats. This finding provides new insights into the link between air pollution and lung disease.
Researchers discovered a novel technique to identify p62-body constituents, revealing a major subunit of the supramolecular protein complex vault. Vault-phagy, the degradation of vault through selective autophagy, regulates homeostatic vault levels and may be associated with liver cancer.
Researchers discover that brain cells die from lack of energy when autophagy, a natural cleaning process, malfunctions. Compounds boosting NAD levels can improve neuron survival and combat age-related neurodegeneration.
A repurposed HIV drug has been found to restore the brain's autophagy function, helping prevent build-up of misfolded proteins and slowing disease progression in mouse models of Huntington's disease and dementia. This discovery provides clues to how this process could be slowed or prevented in humans.
Researchers discovered that autophagy plays a crucial role in facilitating the co-transmission of two distinct arboviruses by insect vectors. The study found that RSMV nucleoprotein activates complete anti-viral autophagy, while RGDV nonstructural protein Pns11 induces incomplete autophagy to promote viral propagation.
Researchers generated a POLDIP2 knockout ARPE-19 cell line and found reduced mitochondrial superoxide levels, consistent with upregulated SOD2. The study demonstrates a potential role of POLDIP2 in regulating oxidative stress in AMD.
Researchers found that traumatic brain injury suppresses the recycling function of both neurons and immune cells, including microglia and white blood cells. Boosting this process with a drug like rapamycin improves recovery in mice, reducing inflammation and enhancing memory function.
Researchers have found that valosin-containing protein (VCP) is essential for KRAS-mutant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell growth and survival. Inhibiting VCP, combined with autophagy inhibition, enhances efficacy in preclinical studies.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have discovered a key role for autophagy in controlling intracellular infections like TB. By boosting this natural process, they hope to create new treatments that can combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Researchers at the University of Virginia have identified a promising approach to delay aging by detoxifying glycerol and glyceraldehyde, harmful by-products of fat. By activating an enzyme called AMAR, they found that microscopic worms lived longer and healthier lives, and similar effects were seen in other lab models.
A team of researchers has identified a molecular switch that regulates autophagy in plants, bridging two quality control pathways. The study reveals that this regulatory mechanism is conserved in eukaryotes and essential for preventing cells from 'eating' healthy cellular components.
Researchers identified a rare neurological disease in three children associated with mutations in the ATG4D gene, which plays a crucial role in cellular recycling. The study suggests that this genetic variation may lead to insufficient cellular recycling, causing speech and motor impairment.
School of Veterinary Medicine researchers have identified a cellular pathway that hampers the Ebola virus' ability to exit human cells. By targeting the protein VP40, host cells activate autophagy, a process that digests and recycles proteins, reducing viral particle release into the bloodstream.
A new study published in The American Journal of Pathology suggests that promoting autophagy with rapamycin restores intestinal barrier function during sepsis. The study also identifies the PLK1-mTOR axis as a crucial regulator of autophagy and intestinal barrier dysfunction, providing novel insights for treatment of sepsis.
Researchers found a protein called Rac1 that triggers milk production in breast cells when lactation stops and the breast returns to its pre-pregnancy state. This process involves cell death and autophagy, but can be reversed upon suckling, providing a fail-safe mechanism for mammalian survival.
Nrf3 coordinates melanin production by regulating macropinocytosis and autophagy, upregulating core melanogenic factors and inducing melanosomes. The study also identifies Nrf3's role in skin cancer and hyperpigmentation conditions.
In a groundbreaking study, researchers at Eötvös Loránd University have found that gland cells in Drosophila melanogaster can remove defective secretory particles as early as the secretion process begins. This discovery sheds new light on crinophagy, a previously understudied process crucial for maintaining cellular quality and function.
Researchers found that rapamycin increased autophagy in female intestinal cells, leading to longer lifespan and reduced age-related diseases. In contrast, male intestinal cells showed no further increase in autophagy activity after rapamycin treatment.
Scientists have discovered how cells eliminate mutated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) using autophagy, a cellular waste disposal process. This mechanism prevents mitochondrial damage and preserves function.
A new study reveals how aging triggers a loss of crucial autophagy in neurons affected by Huntington's disease. Enhancing autophagy with a chemical compound called G2 protects these cells from death, suggesting a potential treatment for the condition.
Plant cells use a complex 'hub and spoke' system to recycle organelles, involving specialized vesicles and molecular mechanisms. The discovery sheds light on the role of autophagy in plant stress tolerance.
Poliovirus researchers at Umeå University have gained a new understanding of how the virus behaves in infected cells, revealing key protein roles and cellular processes involved. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new antiviral treatments and vaccines targeting the autophagy system.
A new study suggests that impaired autophagy may contribute to the development of post-partum depression in pregnant women. The researchers found lower levels of messenger RNA associated with autophagy in blood samples from women who went on to develop PPD.
Researchers have identified a previously unknown biological contributor to postpartum depression: impaired autophagy, which limits the body's ability to clean up old genetic material. This finding may lead to new treatments and early identification of women at risk before they become ill.
A team of researchers at Juntendo University has identified a biomolecule called human-β-defensin-3 (hBD-3) that can mitigate eczema in mice by regulating autophagy and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling pathway. This discovery provides new insights into the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis and potential therapeutic solutions.
A team of researchers at Osaka University has identified a specific enzyme complex that initiates the removal of damaged lysosomes from cells. The complex, composed of CUL4A, DDB1, and WDFY1 proteins, acts preferentially during lysophagy to facilitate the degradation process.
Researchers discovered that autophagy facilitates the elimination of cancer cells via cell competition, highlighting its potential as a target for cancer prevention and treatment. The study sheds light on the role of autophagy in maintaining tissue homeostasis and opening avenues for novel anti-cancer therapeutics.
Researchers at IRB Barcelona have discovered a key mechanism behind the formation of brown adipose tissue, which is essential for preventing obesity. The study found that the NCOR1 protein is degraded through autophagy to ensure correct development of brown adipose tissue cells.
Researchers from Tokyo University of Science developed novel complex-peptide hybrids that induce programmed cell death in apoptosis-resistant cancer cells through paraptosis. The compounds, syn-6 and anti-6, inhibit cell death by uncoupling mitochondrial calcium uptake and inducing cytoplasmic vacuolization, leading to cell death.
A team of researchers developed a nanoparticle probe that can detect an indicator of heart damage from chemotherapy. Experiments revealed that intermittent fasting before chemotherapy can prevent this damage and preserve cardiac function.
A new study by Nara Institute of Science and Technology researchers has identified the crucial role of autophagy in plant cell differentiation, particularly in Arabidopsis roots. Autophagy is necessary for root cap cells to transition from gravity sensors to secretory cells and undergo organized separation.
Researchers at National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology found that p62 selectively degrades toxic tau species, preventing neurodegenerative disorders. The study demonstrates the pivotal role of p62 in suppressing abnormal protein aggregates using mouse models of dementia.
During plant spermiogenesis, the number of mitochondria decreases through autophagy, resulting in a characteristic pattern. This process is distinct from animal reproduction, where organelles are removed by neighboring cells through phagocytosis.
A study by Brazilian scientists reveals that autophagy can modulate the accumulation of mutant mitochondrial DNA in cells during aging. The researchers found that mice with liver-specific atg7 knockout showed reduced buildup of mutant DNA, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for diseases associated with mitochondrial DNA mutations.
Research reveals pridopidine enhances autophagy in ALS model, reducing toxic protein aggregation and promoting neuronal health. The study supports pridopidine's potential as a treatment for neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington's disease and Alzheimer's.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that increasing chaperone-mediated autophagy activity can prevent atherosclerosis by protecting macrophages and smooth muscle cells from damage. The study suggests that boosting CMA could be an effective strategy for curbing atherosclerosis and halting its progression, particular...
Researchers develop novel therapeutic approach for treating tuberculosis using phosphatase inhibitors, offering potential benefits for TB research and basic biology exploration. The discovery provides a promising alternative to traditional antibiotic-based treatments and has significant implications for combating antimicrobial resistance.
Autophagy is induced when ER-bound ribosomes are stalled, rescuing them from cellular harm. The ERC grant aims to decipher the role of Autophagy in rescuing stalled ER-bound ribosomes.
A study by Osaka University investigated the relationship between autophagy and metabolism during fasting. Autophagy was found to play a key role in promoting fat loss during fasting, particularly through the upregulation of adipogenic genes. The findings may have important implications for understanding metabolism during aging.
Researchers have found that autophagy helps form epithelial syncytia during wound healing, a process previously only observed in muscle and placenta development. This discovery highlights the importance of understanding autophagy's role in disease mechanisms.
Researchers from Osaka University discovered that MondoA protein delays cellular senescence by activating autophagy, promoting longevity. Activation of MondoA also maintains mitochondrial stability, preventing senescence in tissues like the kidney.
A new study published in Cell Reports Medicine found that a cancer drug called ADI-PEG 20 improved insulin sensitivity, cholesterol levels, and reduced inflammation in mice. The treatment also caused significant weight loss in obese mice, suggesting potential benefits for human obesity treatment.
Researchers found that Rivaroxaban reduces atherosclerosis progression by inhibiting factor Xa-PAR2 mediated macrophage autophagy and inflammasome activity. The study suggests RIV as a potential anti-atherosclerotic drug, offering hope for treating this fatal disease.
Researchers discovered nine genes in S. mansoni's autophagy pathway inhibited by the primate's immune system, preventing parasite multiplication and contaminating the host. The study suggests a potential novel therapy and vaccine against schistosomiasis.
Researchers discovered that ERK5 inhibitors activate endoplasmic reticulum stress and UPR in tumor cells, leading to a toxic form of autophagy that causes apoptosis, potentially improving cancer treatment. This finding opens a promising new line for the improvement of chemotherapy and more effective strategies against cancer.
Researchers found that people with brain buildup but no dementia had normal tau protein, while those who developed plaques or tangles also had a different-handed form of tau. This suggests that a slowdown in autophagy, the process of clearing spent proteins, may be underlying cause of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at UNM's AIM Center have discovered how SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus interferes with the autophagy process, a vital cellular mechanism for recycling debris and invading microorganisms. The study found that the virus hijacks cellular membranes to evade immune systems.
Researchers found that optimizing energy metabolism through autophagy can improve the immune system response in HIV-affected cells, providing a potential therapeutic approach. This metabolic optimization enables CD4 lymphocytes to better defend against HIV-1 by secreting IL-21, a key protein in defense against the virus.
Researchers at University of Illinois Chicago found a potential direct connection between neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), glaucoma, and herpesvirus. The study suggests OPTN protein restricts HSV-1 virus spread in cells.
Researchers from Meiji University highlight autophagy's role in restoring zinc-iron balance in plants, mitigating symptoms of zinc deficiency and excess. Autophagy regulates intracellular zinc-iron homeostasis, adapting to environmental stress.
Researchers from Osaka University found a link between excessive autophagy and reduced sperm production, suggesting a potential mechanism for male infertility. The study suggests that Rubicon regulates autophagic degradation of GATA4, promoting Sertoli cell function.
Lipidated Atg8 has been found to exhibit membrane transforming activity, interacting with the membrane via two aromatic amino acids. This interaction promotes autophagosome formation by perturbing and transforming membranes.
A new study using expanded genetic code technologies uncovers the structural aspect of how one protein functions in lysosomes for intracellular clearance. The research reveals that the homophilic interaction between LAMP2 molecules is crucial for their function on the lysosome membrane.
A group of patients with neurological disease have been found to lack a critical cell process called autophagy. This discovery challenges the understanding that humans cannot survive if their cells completely fail to carry out autophagy, and may have important implications for research and therapies in neurodegeneration and cancer.
Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys have gained insight into the process of autophagy, where cells degrade and recycle cellular components. The study reveals that a chemical modification helps direct the transport of autophagosomes to cellular recycling plants, potentially leading to new targets for age-related diseases.
Researchers found that autophagy and the G2 checkpoint are interrelated processes in pancreatic cancer cells, helping them survive radiotherapy. Inhibiting the G2 checkpoint suppresses tumor growth, suggesting new tools to combat radiation-resistant PDAC cells.