Open AccessA unifying model for the role of the ATG8 system in autophagy
Author(s) -
Thanh Ngoc Nguyen,
Michael Lazarou
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of cell science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.384
H-Index - 278
eISSN - 1477-9137
pISSN - 0021-9533
DOI - 10.1242/jcs.258997
Subject(s) - atg8 , autophagy , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , mechanism (biology) , function (biology) , model organism , ubiquitin , computational biology , genetics , physics , gene , apoptosis , quantum mechanics
The formation of autophagosomes and their fusion with lysosomes are key events that underpin autophagic degradation of cargoes. The core ATG8 system, which consists of the ATG8 family of ubiquitin-like proteins and the machineries that conjugate them onto autophagosomal membranes, are among the most-studied autophagy components. Despite the research focus on the core ATG8 system, there are conflicting reports regarding its essential roles in autophagy. Here, we reconcile prior observations of the core ATG8 system into a unifying model of their function that aims to consider apparently conflicting discoveries. Bypass pathways of autophagy that function independently of the core ATG8 system are also discussed.