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Updated: Aug 25, 2025

Author Spotlight: Imaging ATG9A, a Multi-Spanning Membrane Protein
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Author Spotlight: Imaging ATG9A, a Multi-Spanning Membrane Protein

Published on: June 16, 2023

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Development of new tools to study membrane-anchored mammalian Atg8 proteins

Sang-Won Park1, Pureum Jeon2, Akinori Yamasaki3

  • 1Department of Vector Entomology, College of Ecology and Environment, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, Korea.

Autophagy
|October 17, 2022
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Autophagy receptor CALCOCO2/NDP52 binds to the autophagic membrane and cytosol, facilitating cargo recognition. This process is crucial for selective autophagic degradation, particularly in conditions like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Selective autophagy is a critical cellular process for degrading specific cargo, including damaged organelles and protein aggregates.
  • Autophagy receptors play a key role in bridging cargo to the autophagosome machinery.
  • Dysfunctional autophagy is implicated in neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interaction of the autophagy receptor CALCOCO2/NDP52 with the autophagic membrane and cytosol.
  • To elucidate the role of CALCOCO2/NDP52 in selective autophagic cargo recognition and degradation.
  • To explore the relevance of CALCOCO2/NDP52 function in the context of ALS.

Main Methods:

  • Biochemical assays to study protein-protein interactions.
  • Cellular imaging techniques to visualize autophagosome formation and cargo engulfment.
  • Genetic manipulation (knockout strains) to assess the function of key autophagy proteins.

Main Results:

  • CALCOCO2/NDP52 directly binds to the autophagic membrane and is present in the cytosol.
  • CALCOCO2/NDP52 facilitates the recognition and engulfment of specific cargo into autophagosomes.
  • Impaired CALCOCO2/NDP52 function affects autophagic flux and is linked to ALS-associated protein aggregation.

Conclusions:

  • CALCOCO2/NDP52 is a key mediator of selective autophagy, essential for cargo recognition and autophagosome formation.
  • The findings highlight the importance of CALCOCO2/NDP52 in maintaining cellular homeostasis and its potential role in ALS pathogenesis.
  • Targeting CALCOCO2/NDP52 function may offer therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases.
Keywords:
AutophagyGABARAPLIR motifRavZ proteinmammalian ATG8selective mATG8–PE delipidation

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