Structure-guided targeting of MoAtg8 reveals an autophagy-mediated detoxification pathway
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Updated: Nov 2, 2026

Cell-Based Drug Screening for Inhibitors of Autophagy Related 4B Cysteine Peptidase
Published on: June 30, 2023
Xue-Ming Zhu1, Lin Li1, Zi-Fang Shen1
1State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiomics, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiome of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China.
Abstract:
Macroautophagy/autophagy is typically viewed as a route for removing cytosolic material to the vacuole or lysosome. However, interactions with the autophagy machinery may also determine the fate of small molecules. Structure-guided screening in Magnaporthe oryzae identified nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) as a high-affinity ligand of MoAtg8. NDGA inhibited early infection-related development and damaged fungal membranes, whereas MoAtg8-dependent autophagy promoted its vacuolar delivery and reduced its toxic effects on the fungus. These findings revealed a protective role of Atg8 for handling a toxic compound and suggested that weakening this buffering pathway could enhance antifungal activity.
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