Autophagy: Molecular mechanism and its integration into cell physiology

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23000015
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Specially Promoted Research
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Biological Sciences
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: OHSUMI Yoshinori 東京工業大学, 科学技術創成研究院, 栄誉教授 (30114416)
• Project Period (FY): 2011 – 2016
• Keywords: オートファジー / ATG / タンパク質分解 / 酵母 / 細胞制御

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Using molecular biology techniques, we clarified the intracellular localization of the 18 core Atg proteins, as well as the mechanistic basis of PAS formation. We also employed the heat-tolerant yeast K. marxianus in rapidly progressing structural studies of the Atg proteins.
As part of our physiological analysis of autophagy, we identified novel receptor proteins that facilitate selective forms of autophagy, and identified the phosphorylation events and upstream kinases that regulate this process. In addition, we demonstrated the bulk turnover of RNA by autophagy and uncovered its underlying mechanism.

Free Research Field

分子細胞生物学