Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY & CELL BIOLOGY
Volume 43, Issue 4, Pages 460-464Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2011.01.006
Keywords
Macroautophagy; Autophagosome; Cell survival; Lysosome; Protein degradation
Categories
Funding
- Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM)
- Paris-Sud 11 University
- Institut National du Cancer (INCa)-Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer (ARC)
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)
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The autophagosome is a double-membrane bound compartment that initiates macroautophagy, a degradative pathway for cytoplasmic material terminating in the lysosomal compartment. The discovery of ATG genes involved in the formation of autophagosomes has greatly increased our understanding of the molecular basis of macroautophagy, and its role in cell function. Macroautophagy plays a pivotal role in cell fitness by removing obsolete organelles and protein aggregates. Its stimulation is an adaptive response to stressful situations, such as nutrient deprivation, intended to maintain a level of ATP compatible with cell survival. Macroautophagy is central for organ homeostasis, embryonic development, and longevity. Malfunctioning autophagy is observed in many human diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiac and muscular diseases, infectious and inflammatory diseases, diabetes, and obesity. Discovering potential drug therapies that can be used to modulate macroautophagy is a major challenge, and likely to enhance the therapeutic arsenal against many human diseases. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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