Nucleophagy: from homeostasis to disease

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Molecular Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Nuclear abnormalities are hallmarks of degenerative diseases and progeria syndromes.
• Selective organelle autophagy is crucial for cellular homeostasis and preventing premature aging.
• The process of nuclear autophagy (nucleophagy) remains poorly understood despite the nucleus's central role.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent discoveries in nuclear recycling, specifically nucleophagy.
• To highlight the selective degradation of nuclear components in physiological and pathological contexts.
• To examine the implications of nucleophagy in senescence and longevity.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on nucleophagy in yeast and mammals.
• Analysis of selective degradation pathways for nuclear envelope, DNA, RNA, and nucleoli.
• Discussion of potential links between nucleophagy, senescence, and longevity.

Main Results:

• Nucleophagy occurs in yeast under physiological conditions and in mammals pathologically.
• The process selectively degrades nuclear envelope, DNA, RNA, and nucleoli.
• Perturbed nucleophagy may influence cellular senescence and organismal longevity.

Conclusions:

• Nucleophagy is a selective process involved in nuclear quality control.
• Further research is needed to understand the conditions, receptors, and substrates of homeostatic nucleophagy.
• Investigating nucleophagy offers insights into aging and age-related diseases.