Autophagy News and Research

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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.

Study reveals molecular details of how SARS-CoV-2 infects cells

The molecular details of how SARS-CoV-2 enters cells and infects them are still not clear. Researchers at Uppsala University have tested the bioinformatic predictions made by another research group and have identified receptors that could be important players in the process.

9 Feb 2021

Blocking autophagy could help treat certain cancers

Recycling cans and bottles is a good practice. It helps keep the planet clean. The same is true for recycling within cells in the body. Each cell has a way of cleaning out waste in order to regenerate newer, healthier cells. This "cell recycling" is called autophagy.

9 Feb 2021

SARS-CoV-2 virus may enter and replicate in human cells by targeting cellular processes

The SARS-CoV-2 virus may enter and replicate in human cells by exploiting newly-identified sequences within cell receptors, according to work from two teams of scientists.

22 Jan 2021

Study: Phase separated droplets have many important functions in cells

Autophagy is a fundamental cellular process by which cells capture and degrade their own dysfunctional or superfluous components for degradation and recycling.

22 Jan 2021

High-speed atomic force microscopy sheds light on structure, dynamics of intrinsically disordered proteins

Kanazawa University’s pioneering high-speed atomic force microscope technology has now shed light on the structure and dynamics of some of life’s most ubiquitous and inscrutable molecules – intrinsically disordered proteins.

29 Dec 2020

Anti-diarrhea drug could be used to induce cell death in glioblastoma cell lines

The research group led by Dr Sjoerd van Wijk from the Institute of Experimental Cancer Research in Paediatrics at Goethe University already two years ago found evidence indicating that the anti-diarrhea drug loperamide could be used to induce cell death in glioblastoma cell lines.

23 Dec 2020

Study may lead to new approaches to protect older individuals from viruses

A drug that boosts the removal of cellular debris in immune cells may increase the protective effects of vaccines in older adults, a study published today in eLife shows.

16 Dec 2020

Researchers reveal identity of the last unknown protein of autophagy

Drs. Nobuo Noda (Director) and Kazuaki Matoba (Senior Researcher) et al. at the Institute of Microbial Chemistry (BIKAKEN, Tokyo, Japan) discovered that Atg9, one of the proteins that function to mediate autophagy, has phospholipid-translocation activity (the lipid scramblase activity) between the two layers of the lipid bilayer and elucidated that the protein's activity brings about autophagosome membrane expansion.

5 Nov 2020

Reducing food intake can reduce risk of liver cancer caused by fatty liver

Liver cancer from too much fat accumulation in the liver has been increasing in many countries including Japan. In order to change this unfortunate state of affairs, it is important to improve the prognosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

2 Nov 2020

Dietary supplement can support immune system to combat SARS-CoV-2 infections

SPIN (SPermidin and eugenol INtegrator for the contrasting incidence of coronavirus in EU population) is a European project powered by EIT Food that is currently developing a dietary supplement supporting the function of the immune system in the fight against SARS-CoV-2 infections in the population at high risk.

22 Oct 2020

Enzyme SSH1 impairs disposal of damaged tau and mitochondria leaking toxins

In a healthy brain, the multistep waste clearance process known as autophagy routinely removes and degrades damaged cell components - including malformed proteins like tau and toxic mitochondria.

13 Oct 2020

Study reveals pathways essential for preventing crystal-induced kidney injury

Human cells are required to work similar to well-oiled machines to maintain the proper function of individuals’ body.

From Osaka University 30 Sep 2020

Study may help develop new immunotherapies for different types of tumors

A team of researchers have plotted the genes that enable cancer cells to avoid being destroyed by the immune system.

From University of Toronto 25 Sep 2020

Researchers identify new therapeutic target for spinocerebellar ataxia

Scientists have created an animal model that simulates cerebellar neurodegeneration and motor dysfunction.

25 Sep 2020

Rare disorder of fat metabolism can cause chronic hyperreaction of the immune system

A congenital disorder of the fat metabolism can apparently cause chronic hyperreaction of the immune system. This is the conclusion reached by researchers from the University of Bonn in a recent study.

25 Aug 2020

Researchers identify key protein involved in age-related disorders

People may go to great lengths to fight aging, but this process is a part of life.

From Osaka University 20 Aug 2020

Study shows how high-protein diet protects against fatty liver

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common chronic liver disease in the world, with sometimes life-threatening consequences.

19 Aug 2020

Discovery Shows Promise For Treating Huntington's Disease

Huntington disease is a progressive debilitating brain disorder that causes uncontrolled movements, psychological problems, and loss of cognition.

6 Aug 2020

Study reveals the role of embryonic stem cells in cell repair

Chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) is a self-eating process that occurs in embryonic stem cells.

27 Jul 2020

Study reveals the degradation mechanism of endoplasmic reticulum

A team of researchers have analyzed the degradation mechanism of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) called ER-phagy.

23 Jul 2020