AeiA, an Atg8-interacting protein in Aspergillus oryzae, promotes peroxisome degradation by pexophagy

There are two types of autophagy, non-selective (bulk) autophagy, in which substrates are randomly incorporated into autophagosomes, and selective autophagy, in which substrates are specifically targeted. In filamentous fungi, the molecular mechanism underlying selective autophagy remains largely unknown. Recently we identified a novel protein, AoAtg8-interacting protein A (AeiA), in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae. AeiA was localized to peroxisomes and autophagosomal intermediates, such as phagophore assembly site (PAS) and the phagophore. Moreover, pexophagy flux was reduced in AeiA deletants. Taken together, AeiA is a novel selective autophagy-related protein that contributes to pexophagy in A. oryzae. Our findings provide insight into the molecular mechanisms of selective autophagy including pexophagy in filamentous fungi. Abbreviations: AIM, Atg8-family interacting motifs; Atg8, autophagy-related 8; EGFP, enhanced green fluorescent protein; GABARAP, Gamma aminobutyric acid A receptor associated protein; LC3, Microtubule-associated protein light chain 3; MTS, microbody targeting signal; PD, potato dextrose.