Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 14, 2025

Live Cell Imaging of Early Autophagy Events: Omegasomes and Beyond
Published on: July 27, 2013
Mammalian hybrid pre-autophagosomal structure HyPAS generates autophagosomes
Suresh Kumar1, Ruheena Javed1, Michal Mudd1
1Autophagy Inflammation and Metabolism Center, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Autophagosome biogenesis involves a novel hybrid membrane compartment, HyPAS, formed from Golgi and endosomal pathways. This process is targeted by SARS-CoV-2 proteins, impacting autophagosome formation.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Autophagy Research
Background:
- The precise mechanisms governing mammalian autophagosome biogenesis are not fully elucidated.
- Understanding autophagosome origins is crucial for cellular health and disease research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the origin and biogenesis of mammalian autophagosomes.
- To identify novel membrane compartments involved in autophagosome formation.
- To investigate the impact of viral factors on autophagosome precursor assembly.
Main Methods:
- Utilized cellular and in vitro membrane fusion assays.
- Investigated the role of FIP200 vesicles and ATG16L1 membranes.
- Analyzed the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection and nsp6 expression.
Main Results:
- Identified a hybrid pre-autophagosomal structure (HyPAS) formed by the fusion of cis-Golgi-derived FIP200 vesicles and endosomally derived ATG16L1 membranes.
- Discovered a novel apparatus controlling HyPAS biogenesis and autophagosomal precursor membranes.
- Demonstrated that HyPAS formation is inhibited by SARS-CoV-2 infection and nsp6 expression.
- Showed HyPAS can be modulated by pharmacological agents.
Conclusions:
- Mammalian autophagosome membranes originate from a hybrid compartment (HyPAS) integrating secretory and endosomal pathways.
- Autophagosome biogenesis is a target for microbial factors, exemplified by coronaviral proteins.
- This discovery provides new insights into the regulation of autophagy and its manipulation by viruses.
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,...
Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
Maturation of Endosomes
Changes in location
The maturing endosome moves along microtubules from the periphery of the cell towards the perinuclear region. This movement of the...
Intralumenal Vesicles and Multivesicular Bodies
Translocation of Proteins into the Mitochondria
Sorting of outer membrane proteins:
Mitochondrial outer membrane proteins are of two types: the transmembrane, beta-barrel porins, and the membrane-anchored, alpha-helical proteins. Beta-barrel porin precursors are translocated by the TOM complex and inserted into the outer mitochondrial membrane by the SAM complex. In contrast,...
Autophagic Cell Death
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and...

