Research / Research Highlights

Research Highlights

Research Highlights /

Research Highlights

Prof. Yong-Keun Jung

Novel protective mechanisms in the organelle stress responses

-FKBPL_CKAP3 in ER-phagy under ER stress (Li et al., Nature Communication, 2024.09)

Endoplasmic reticulum quality control is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis and adapting to stress conditions. Although several ER-phagy receptors have been identified, the collaboration between cytosolic and ER-resident factors in ER fragmentation and ER-phagy regulation remains unclear. Here, we perform a phenotype-based gain-of-function screen and identify a cytosolic protein, FKBPL, functioning as an ER-phagy regulator. Overexpression of FKBPL triggers ER fragmentation and ER-phagy. FKBPL has multiple protein binding domains, can self-associate and might act as a scaffold connecting CKAP4 and LC3/GABARAPs. CKAP4 serves as a bridge between FKBPL and ER-phagy cargo. ER-phagy-inducing conditions increase FKBPLCKAP4 interaction followed by FKBPL oligomerization at the ER, leading to ER-phagy. In addition, FKBPL-CKAP4 deficiency leads to Golgi disassembly and lysosome impairment, and an increase in ER-derived secretory vesicles and enhances cytosolic protein secretion via microvesicle shedding. Taken together, FKBPL with the aid of CKAP4 induces ER fragmentation and ER-phagy, and FKBPL-CKAP4 deficiency facilitates protein secretion.

more >> https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-52188-7

-LC3-TFE3 pathway in Golgi apparatus stress response (Kang et al EMBO J. 2024.09)

Lipidated ATG8/LC3 proteins are recruited to single membrane compartments as well as autophagosomes, supporting their functions. Although recent studies have shown that Golgi-LC3 lipidation follows Golgi damage, its molecular mechanism and function under Golgi stress remain unknown. Here, by combining DLK1 overexpression as a new strategy for induction of Golgi-specific LC3 lipidation, and the application of Golgi-damaging reagents, we unravel the mechanism and role of Golgi-LC3 lipidation. Upon DLK1 overexpression, LC3 is lipidated on the Golgi apparatus in an ATG12-ATG5-ATG16L1 complex-dependent manner; a post-Golgi trafficking blockade is the primary cause of this lipidation. During Golgi stress, ATG16L1 is recruited through its interaction with V-ATPase for Golgi-LC3 lipidation. After post-Golgi trafficking inhibition, TFE3, a key regulator of the Golgi stress response, is translocated to the nucleus. Defects in LC3 lipidation disrupt this translocation, leading to an attenuation of the Golgi stress response. Together, our results reveal the mechanism and unexplored function of Golgi-LC3 lipidation in the Golgi stress response.

more >> https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.1038/s44318-024-00233-y