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The interplay between endomembranes and autophagy in plants
Yonglun Zeng1, Baiying Li1, Youshun Lin1
1School of Life Sciences, Centre for Cell and Developmental Biology and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
Current Opinion in Plant Biology
|July 26, 2019
Summary
Autophagosomes maintain cell balance by engulfing cellular parts. Recent plant research links the endomembrane system, especially the endoplasmic reticulum, to autophagosome formation and function.
Area of Science:
- Plant Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Autophagy Research
Background:
- Autophagosomes are vital double-membrane organelles for cellular homeostasis in eukaryotes.
- Autophagy-related proteins are essential for autophagosome formation, but membrane origin is unclear.
- The endomembrane system facilitates membrane trafficking crucial for organelle function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on plant autophagosome biogenesis.
- To explore the role of the endomembrane system in plant autophagy.
- To discuss the functional interplay between endomembrane machineries and autophagy.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on plant autophagy.
- Analysis of genetic screening data for autophagy-related proteins.
- Discussion of evidence linking endomembrane system components to autophagosome formation.
Main Results:
- Accumulating evidence suggests a connection between plant autophagy and the endomembrane system.
- The endoplasmic reticulum is implicated as a key source for autophagosome membranes in plants.
- Endomembrane machineries play significant functional roles in the plant autophagy pathway.
Conclusions:
- The endomembrane system, particularly the ER, is integral to plant autophagosome formation.
- Understanding this link is crucial for elucidating cellular homeostasis mechanisms in plants.
- Further research into endomembrane-autophagy interactions will advance plant cell biology.
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