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Recent Advances in Single-Particle Electron Microscopic Analysis of Autophagy Degradation Machinery Cheung, Yiu Wing Sunny; Nam, Sung-Eun; Yip, Calvin K.

Abstract

Macroautophagy (also known as autophagy) is a major pathway for selective degradation of misfolded/aggregated proteins and damaged organelles and non-selective degradation of cytoplasmic constituents for the generation of power during nutrient deprivation. The multi-step degradation process, from sequestering cytoplasmic cargo into the double-membrane vesicle termed autophagosome to the delivery of the autophagosome to the lysosome or lytic vacuole for breakdown, is mediated by the core autophagy machinery composed of multiple Atg proteins, as well as the divergent sequence family of selective autophagy receptors. Single-particle electron microscopy (EM) is a molecular imaging approach that has become an increasingly important tool in the structural characterization of proteins and macromolecular complexes. This article summarizes the contributions single-particle EM have made in advancing our understanding of the core autophagy machinery and selective autophagy receptors. We also discuss current technical challenges and roadblocks, as well as look into the future of single-particle EM in autophagy research.

Item Metadata

Title
Recent Advances in Single-Particle Electron Microscopic Analysis of Autophagy Degradation Machinery
Creator
Cheung, Yiu Wing Sunny; Nam, Sung-Eun; Yip, Calvin K.
Contributor
University of British Columbia. Life Sciences Institute
Publisher
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Date Issued
2020-10-28
Description
Macroautophagy (also known as autophagy) is a major pathway for selective degradation of misfolded/aggregated proteins and damaged organelles and non-selective degradation of cytoplasmic constituents for the generation of power during nutrient deprivation. The multi-step degradation process, from sequestering cytoplasmic cargo into the double-membrane vesicle termed autophagosome to the delivery of the autophagosome to the lysosome or lytic vacuole for breakdown, is mediated by the core autophagy machinery composed of multiple Atg proteins, as well as the divergent sequence family of selective autophagy receptors. Single-particle electron microscopy (EM) is a molecular imaging approach that has become an increasingly important tool in the structural characterization of proteins and macromolecular complexes. This article summarizes the contributions single-particle EM have made in advancing our understanding of the core autophagy machinery and selective autophagy receptors. We also discuss current technical challenges and roadblocks, as well as look into the future of single-particle EM in autophagy research.
Subject
autophagy; selective autophagy; Atg proteins; single-particle electron microscopy; cryo-EM
Genre
Article
Type
Text
Language
eng
Date Available
2020-11-12
Provider
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
Rights
CC BY 4.0
DOI
10.14288/1.0394943
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/2429/76495
Affiliation
Medicine, Faculty of; Other UBC; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of
Citation
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21 (21): 8051 (2020)
Publisher DOI
10.3390/ijms21218051
Peer Review Status
Reviewed
Scholarly Level
Faculty
Rights URI
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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CC BY 4.0