Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2025

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy
Published on: January 31, 2025
DRAMs and autophagy: a family affair
Valentin J A Barthet1,2,3, Kevin M Ryan1,2
1Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK.
Abstract:
Macroautophagy/autophagy is a conserved catabolic process that delivers intracellular materials to lysosomes for degradation. This process promotes cell survival by maintaining cellular homeostasis and supplying substrates to produce energy during nutrient-deprived conditions. DRAM1 (DNA damage regulated autophagy modulator 1) is involved in DNA-damage-induced autophagy and belongs to an evolutionarily conserved protein family, which contains five members in human. Our recent study provides the initial characterization of the last two members of the DRAM family in autophagy regulation. Our findings revealed that TMEM150C/DRAM4 (transmembrane protein 150C) and TMEM150A/DRAM5 are nutrient-responsive members of the DRAM family that manifest interconnected roles in modulating the autophagic flux and cell survival under nutrient-deprived conditions.
Abbreviations:
DRAM1: DNA damage regulated autophagy modulator 1 EBSS: Earle's balanced salt solution MAP1LC3/LC3: Microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3.
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,...
Autophagic Cell Death
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and...
Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...

