Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026

Live Cell Imaging of Early Autophagy Events: Omegasomes and Beyond
Published on: July 27, 2013
Omegasomes: PI3P platforms that manufacture autophagosomes
Rebecca Roberts1, Nicholas T Ktistakis
1Signalling Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, U.K.
Abstract:
Autophagy is a conserved survival pathway, which cells and tissues will activate during times of stress. It is characterized by the formation of double-membrane vesicles called autophagosomes inside the cytoplasm. The molecular mechanisms and the signalling components involved require specific control to ensure correct activation. The present chapter describes the formation of autophagosomes from within omegasomes, newly identified membrane compartments enriched in PI3P (phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate) that serve as platforms for the formation of at least some autophagosomes. We discuss the signalling events required to nucleate the formation of omegasomes as well as the protein complexes involved.
Related Concept Videos
Autophagy
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
Phosphoinositides and PIPs
Different phosphoinositides are synthesized and recruited on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. The localization of specific phosphoinositides concentrated in separate membrane...
Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
Intralumenal Vesicles and Multivesicular Bodies
Protein Import into the Peroxisomes
Peroxisomal Protein Import:
Peroxisomes lack the genetic machinery required to code for their own proteins. Hence, most peroxisomal membrane, lumenal and transmembrane proteins are synthesized in the cytoplasm or ER and transported to the peroxisome...
Peroxisomes

