Autophagic Punctum

Together we are stronger: Fusion protects mitochondria from autophagosomal degradation

Volume 7, Issue 12   December 2011
Pages 1568 - 1569
http://dx.doi.org/10.4161/auto.7.12.17992
Keywords: Drp1, PKA, autophagy, fission, fusion, mitochondria, starvation
Authors: Angelika S. Rambold, Brenda Kostelecky and Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz

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Abstract:
Starvation induces a protective process of self-cannibalization called autophagy that is thought to mediate nonselective degradation of cytoplasmic material. We recently reported that mitochondria escape autophagosomal degradation through extensive fusion into mitochondrial networks upon certain starvation conditions. The extent of mitochondrial elongation is dependent on the type of nutrient deprivation, with amino acid depletion having a particularly strong effect. Downregulation of the mitochondrial fission protein Drp1 was determined to be important in bringing about starvation-induced mitochondrial fusion. The formation of mitochondrial networks during nutrient depletion selectively blocked their autophagic degradation, presumably allowing cells to sustain efficient ATP production and thereby survive starvation.

Autophagic Punctum to:
AS Rambold, B Kostelecky, N Elia, J Lippincott-Schwartz. Tubular network formation protects mitochondria from autophagosomal degradation during nutrient starvation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108: 10190-5
PMID: 21646527 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1107402

Received: August 16, 2011; Accepted: September 6, 2011

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