Autophagy News and Research

RSS

Autophagy is a normal process in which a cell destroys proteins and other substances in its cytoplasm (the fluid inside the cell membrane but outside the nucleus), which may lead to cell death. Autophagy may prevent normal cells from developing into cancer cells, but it may also protect cancer cells by destroying anticancer drugs or substances taken up by them.

Zebrafish Model Offers Hope for Treating Ultra-Rare Muscle Disease

Can a small fish help identify possible treatments for an ultra-rare inherited disease found in an Alabama boy? The genetic disease is XMEA, which progressively weakens the muscles and can affect the liver and heart.

6 Jun 2025

Zika Virus Hijacks Cellular Cleanup to Suppress Immune Response

A new study reveals the biological secret to the Zika virus's infectious success: Zika uses host cells' own "self-care" system of clearing away useless molecules to suppress the host proteins that the virus has employed to get into those cells in the first place.

28 May 2025

Study Reveals Epigenetic Clues Behind Autism Development

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition affecting the brain's development and often affects the ability of a person to perceive sensory information and social cues and socialize with others.

22 May 2025

Autophagy: A Double-Edged Sword in Cancer and Protein Conformational Disorders

A new FEBS Letters review explores the dual role of autophagy in cancer and protein misfolding diseases—highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target and the challenges of tipping the balance between protection and harm.

20 May 2025

Grapevine Cells Show Epigenetic Shifts in Response to Sugar Starvation

Plants face constant challenges from fluctuating nutrient availability, which disrupts their growth and survival.

10 May 2025

Grapevine Cells Reveal Epigenetic Response to Sugar Starvation

Plants face constant challenges from fluctuating nutrient availability, which disrupts their growth and survival.

6 May 2025

Ice Baths May Help Boost Your Cells' Ability to Handle Stress

Ever wondered what happens to your body when you take those trendy ice baths? Scientists at the University of Ottawa just found out, and it's pretty fascinating.

29 Mar 2025

Researchers Unveil Process Behind Cellular Recycling and Waste Removal

A new discovery from an international collaborative research team has solved the mystery of how cells turn on their recycling process and create ‘garbage bags’ to remove proteins.

21 Feb 2025

New Understanding of Autophagy Could Lead to Healthy Aging Therapies

A recent breakthrough from an international collaborative research team has unveiled the mechanism by which cells activate their recycling processes and generate “garbage bags” to eliminate proteins.

19 Feb 2025

New Research Sheds Light on How Cells Manage Fat Recycling

Accumulation of fat molecules is detrimental to the cell. Researchers from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), have made a breakthrough in understanding how our cells manage to stay healthy by recycling important fat molecules.

13 Feb 2025

Protecting Plant Cells from Damage with ATG8ylation

Plants droop and shed their leaves when parched, but with a splash of water, their stems regain strength and their leaves unfurl.

10 Feb 2025

Discovery Unlocks New Understanding of Autophagy in Health and Disease

A recent study from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India has revealed new details about how our cells clean up and recycle waste.

22 Jan 2025

Weak Molecular Interactions Trigger Autophagy in Cells

Recycling takes place in our cells at all times: in a process called autophagy, cell components that are no longer needed are enclosed by membranes and broken down into their basic building blocks.

8 Jan 2025

Research Reveals Regulatory Role of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase in Mitophagy

Mitophagy is a selective form of autophagy via which the damaged mitochondria are cleared via the autophagy-lysosome pathway.

30 Dec 2024

New Frontier in Protein Quality Control and Brain Health

Beyond their use as fuel during fasting, the body's production of ketones plays a part in controlling cellular functions and aging processes.

3 Dec 2024

Supercomputer Simulations Uncover Key Proteins in Membrane Recycling

Newly discovered mechanism helps detach and recycle parts of cellular canal membranes as needed – models developed using supercomputer simulations.

14 Nov 2024

F-Actin Accumulation Impairs Brain Function in Aging Fruit Flies

Humans aren't the only ones who grow forgetful as they age -; fruit flies do, too. But because fruit flies have a lifespan of only about two months, they can be a useful model for understanding the cognitive decline that comes with aging.

29 Oct 2024

Study Uncovers How MANF Protein Enhances Cellular Homeostasis and Longevity

McMaster University researchers have discovered a previously unknown cell-protecting function of a protein, which could open new avenues for treating age-related diseases and lead to healthier aging overall.

21 Oct 2024

A Novel Function for STING in DNA Damage Response

A study published in the journal Molecular Cell has shed light on the multifaceted role of STING, a protein previously implicated in antiviral signaling pathways. The study reveals that STING also plays a crucial part in facilitating cellular stress resolution and promoting cell survival.

23 Sep 2024

Insights into Host Defense Mechanisms Through Cell Death and Immune Pathways

A new review was published as the cover paper of Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as "Aging (Albany NY)" and "Aging-US" by Web of Science), Volume 16, Issue 15, entitled, "Types of cell death and their relations to host immunological pathways".

19 Aug 2024