Cvt Pathway Research Articles

Selective autophagy in budding yeast

Autophagy is a bulk degradation system, widely conserved in eukaryotes. Upon starvation, autophagosomes enclose a portion of the cytoplasm and ultimately fuse with the vacuole. The contents of autophagosomes are degraded in the vacuole, and recycled to maintain the intracellular amino-acid pool required for protein synthesis and survival under starvation conditions. Previously, autophagy was thought to be an essentially nonselective pathway, but recent evidence suggests that autophagosomes carry selected cargoes. These studies have identified two categories of selective autophagy – one highly selective and dependent on autophagy-related 11 (Atg11); another, less selective, that is, independent of Atg11. The former, selective category comprises the Cvt pathway, mitophagy, pexophagy and piecemeal microautophagy of the nucleus; acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 6 degradation and ribophagy belong to the latter, less selective category. In this review, I focus on the mechanisms and the physiological roles of these selective types of autophagy.

Ksp1 Kinase Regulates Autophagy via the Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (TORC1) Pathway

Macroautophagy (hereafter autophagy) is a bulk degradation system conserved in all eukaryotes, which engulfs cytoplasmic components within double-membrane vesicles to allow their delivery to, and subsequent degradation within, the vacuole/lysosome. Autophagy activity is tightly regulated in response to the nutritional state of the cell and also to maintain organelle homeostasis. In nutrient-rich conditions, Tor kinase complex 1 (TORC1) is activated to inhibit autophagy, whereas inactivation of this complex in response to stress leads to autophagy induction; however, it is unclear how the activity of TORC1 is controlled to allow precise adjustments in autophagy activity. In this study, we performed genetic analyses in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to identify factors that regulate TORC1 activity. We determined that the Ksp1 kinase functions in part as a negative regulator of autophagy; deletion of KSP1 facilitated dephosphorylation of Atg13, a TORC1 substrate, which correlates with enhanced autophagy. These results suggest that Ksp1 down-regulates autophagy activity via the TORC1 pathway. The suppressive function of Ksp1 is partially activated by the Ras/cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA), which is another negative regulator of autophagy. Our study therefore identifies Ksp1 as a new component that functions as part of the PKA and TORC1 signaling network to control the magnitude of autophagy.

The Cytoplasm-to-Vacuole Targeting Pathway: A Historical Perspective

From today's perspective, it is obvious that macroautophagy (hereafter autophagy) is an important pathway that is connected to a range of developmental and physiological processes. This viewpoint, however, is relatively recent, coinciding with the molecular identification of autophagy-related (Atg) components that function as the protein machinery that drives the dynamic membrane events of autophagy. It may be difficult, especially for scientists new to this area of research, to appreciate that the field of autophagy long existed as a “backwater” topic that attracted little interest or attention. Paralleling the development of the autophagy field was the identification and analysis of the cytoplasm-to-vacuole targeting (Cvt) pathway, the only characterized biosynthetic route that utilizes the Atg proteins. Here, we relate some of the initial history, including some never-before-revealed facts, of the analysis of the Cvt pathway and the convergence of those studies with autophagy.

Selective Types of Autophagy

The focus of this special issue of the International Journal of Cell Biology is to underscore the recent developments in the field of macroautophagy and how this degradative pathway intersects with cellular metabolism, complex physiological functions, and human diseases. During the last decade, autophagy has become an expanding field in biomedical life sciences due to its involvement with numerous intracellular processes. Autophagy also plays a role in pathology, and it has the therapeutic potential to be the target for the treatment of specific human diseases. Early studies suggested that autophagy was a nonselective process in which cytoplasmic structures were randomly sequestered into autophagosomes before being delivered to the mammalian lysosome or the plant and yeast vacuole for degradation. Now there is growing evidence that unwanted cellular structures can be selectively recognized and exclusively eliminated within cells (F. Reggiori et al., “Selective types of autophagy”). This is achieved through the action of specific autophagy receptors, as reviewed by C. Behrends and S. Fulda in “Receptor proteins in selective autophagy”) and studied by K. Marchbank et al. “MAP1B interaction with the FW domain of the autophagic receptor Nbr1 facilitates its association to the microtubule network”. Thus excess or damaged organelles including mitochondria (A. May et al., “The many faces of mitochondrial autophagy: making sense of contrasting observations in recent research”; Y. Hirota et al., “The physiological role of mitophagy: new insights into phosphorylation events”), peroxisomes (A. Till et al., “Pexophagy: the selective degradation of peroxisomes”), lipid droplets (R. Singh and A. Cuervo, “Lipophagy: connecting autophagy and lipid metabolism”), endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes (E. Cebollero et al., “Reticulophagy and ribophagy: regulated degradation of protein production factories”) can be specifically sequestered by autophagosomes and targeted to the lysosome for degradation. Importantly, there is growing evidence that selective autophagy subtypes also have a wide range of physiological functions. In yeast, the cytosol-to-vacuole (Cvt) pathway transports hydrolases into the vacuole, which is reviewed by M. Umekawa and D. Klionsky in “The cytoplasm-to-vacuole targeting pathway: a historical perspective”. In eukaryotes, autophagy plays a central role in both innate and acquired immunity. Further sequestration and elimination of invading pathogens such as Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus have been exploited to study autophagosome biogenesis (T. Noda et al., “Three-axis model for Atg recruitment in autophagy against Salmonella”; M. Mauthe et al., “WIPI-1 positive autophagosome-like vesicles entrap pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus for lysosomal degradation”). In pancreas cells, autophagy has recently been shown to specifically turn over secretory granules, as described by M. Vaccaro in “Zymophagy: selective autophagy of secretory granules”. Dysregulation of autophagic function has been implicated in a growing list of disease processes and has underscored the selective or substrate-specific versions of the pathway. Examples in this special issue include the clearance of aggregates associated with neurological diseases, as reviewed by T. Lamark and T. Johansen in “Aggrephagy: selective disposal of protein aggregates by macroautophagy” and by I. Nezis in “Selective autophagy in Drosophila”. In terms of cancer biology, autophagy has been viewed as having dual roles in both tumor suppression and progression. K. Hughson et al. in “Implications of therapy-induced selective autophagy on tumor metabolism and survival” review how activation of autophagy selective forms can be used as a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of specific cancers. Adding to the complexity of autophagic function and regulation, the article by K. Juenemann and E. Reits “Alternative macroautophagic pathways” explores alternative macroautophagic pathways that are independent of key core autophagy components such as Beclin-1 or Atg5. We expect future research on the mechanism and regulation of selective autophagy, and the physiological importance of this pathway in human disease will be very exciting and expand on the findings highlighted in this issue of IJCB. Fulvio Reggiori Maasaki Komatsu Kim Finley Anne Simonsen

Aspartyl Aminopeptidase Is Imported from the Cytoplasm to the Vacuole by Selective Autophagy in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Macroautophagy is a catabolic process by which cytosolic components are sequestered by double membrane vesicles called autophagosomes and sorted to the lysosomes/vacuoles to be degraded. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has adapted this mechanism for constitutive transport of the specific vacuolar hydrolases aminopeptidase I (Ape1) and α-mannosidase (Ams1); this process is called the cytoplasm to vacuole targeting (Cvt) pathway. The precursor form of Ape1 self-assembles into an aggregate-like structure in the cytosol that is then recognized by Atg19 in a propeptide-dependent manner. The interaction between Atg19 and autophagosome-forming machineries allows selective packaging of the Ape1-Atg19 complex by the autophagosome-like Cvt vesicle. Ams1 also forms oligomers and utilizes the Ape1 transport system by interacting with Atg19. Although the mechanism of selective transport of the Cvt cargoes has been well studied, it is unclear whether proteins other than Ape1 and Ams1 are transported via the Cvt pathway. We describe here that aspartyl aminopeptidase (Yhr113w/Ape4) is the third Cvt cargo, which is similar in primary structure and subunit organization to Ape1. Ape4 has no propeptide, and it does not self-assemble into aggregates. However, it binds to Atg19 in a site distinct from the Ape1- and Ams1-binding sites, allowing it to "piggyback" on the Ape1 transport system. In growing conditions, a small portion of Ape4 localizes in the vacuole, but its vacuolar transport is accelerated by nutrient starvation, and it stably resides in the vacuole lumen. We propose that the cytosolic Ape4 is redistributed to the vacuole when yeast cells need more active vacuolar degradation.

CCZ1,MON1andYPT7genes are involved in pexophagy, the Cvt pathway and non-specific macroautophagy in the methylotrophic yeastPichia pastoris

Orthologues of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CCZ1, MON1 and YPT7 genes in the methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris, have been identified. These genes encode proteins, which act as a complex, being involved in degradation of oleate-induced peroxisomes, Cvt (cytoplasm to vacuole targeting) pathway and non-specific macroautophagy in S. cerevisiae. CCZ1, MON1 and YPT7 gene orthologues are essential for multiple delivery pathways in P. pastoris. Strains with deletion of either of these genes displayed complete deficiency in pexophagy, non-specific macroautophagy and the biosynthetic Cvt pathway. The data suggest that CCZ1, MON1 and YPT7 genes are involved in degradation of both small oleate-induced and large methanol-induced peroxisomes. The data suggest conservative functions of CCZ1, MON1 and YPT7 genes among yeast species.

Activation of Atg1 kinase in autophagy by regulated phosphorylation

Autophagy is a highly regulated trafficking pathway that leads to selective degradation of cellular constituents such as protein aggregates and excessive and damaged organelles. Atg1 is an essential part of the core autophagic machinery, which triggers induction of autophagy and the Cvt pathway. Although changes in Atg1 phosphorylation and complex formation are thought to regulate its function, the mechanism of Atg1 kinase activation remains unclear. Using a quantitative mass spectrometry approach, we identified 29 phosphorylation sites, of which five are either upregulated or downregulated by rapamycin treatment. Two phosphorylation sites, threonine 226 and serine 230, are evolutionarily conserved and located in the activation loop of the amino terminal kinase domain of Atg1. These phosphorylation events are not required for Atg1 localization to the phagosome assembly site (PAS), or the proper assembly of the multisubunit Atg1 kinase complex and binding to its activator Atg13. However, mutation of either one of these sites results in a loss of Atg1 kinase activity and its function in autophagy and the Cvt pathway. Taken together, our data suggest that phosphorylation of Atg1 on multiple sites provides critical mechanisms to regulate Atg1 function in autophagy and the Cvt pathway.

Membrane Delivery to the Yeast Autophagosome from the Golgi–Endosomal System

While many of the proteins required for autophagy have been identified, the source of the membrane of the autophagosome is still unresolved with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), endosomes, and mitochondria all having been evoked. The integral membrane protein Atg9 is delivered to the autophagosome during starvation and in the related cytoplasm-to-vacuole (Cvt) pathway that occurs constitutively in yeast. We have examined the requirements for delivery of Atg9-containing membrane to the yeast autophagosome. Atg9 does not appear to originate from mitochondria, and Atg9 cannot reach the forming autophagosome directly from the ER or early Golgi. Components of traffic between Golgi and endosomes are known to be required for the Cvt pathway but do not appear required for autophagy in starved cells. However, we find that pairwise combinations of mutations in Golgi-endosomal traffic components apparently only required for the Cvt pathway can cause profound defects in Atg9 delivery and autophagy in starved cells. Thus it appears that membrane that contains Atg9 is delivered to the autophagosome from the Golgi-endosomal system rather than from the ER or mitochondria. This is underestimated by examination of single mutants, providing a possible explanation for discrepancies between yeast and mammalian studies on Atg9 localization and autophagosome formation.

Selective Transport of α-Mannosidase by Autophagic Pathways: STRUCTURAL BASIS FOR CARGO RECOGNITION BY Atg19 AND Atg34

Selective Transport of α-Mannosidase by Autophagic Pathways: STRUCTURAL BASIS FOR CARGO RECOGNITION BY Atg19 AND Atg34

Autophagy-related Protein 8 (Atg8) Family Interacting Motif in Atg3 Mediates the Atg3-Atg8 Interaction and Is Crucial for the Cytoplasm-to-Vacuole Targeting Pathway

The autophagy-related protein 8 (Atg8) conjugation system is essential for the formation of double-membrane vesicles called autophagosomes during autophagy, a bulk degradation process conserved among most eukaryotes. It is also important in yeast for recognizing target vacuolar enzymes through the receptor protein Atg19 during the cytoplasm-to-vacuole targeting (Cvt) pathway, a selective type of autophagy. Atg3 is an E2-like enzyme that conjugates Atg8 with phosphatidylethanolamine. Here, we show that Atg3 directly interacts with Atg8 through the WEDL sequence, which is distinct from canonical interaction between E2 and ubiquitin-like modifiers. Moreover, NMR experiments suggest that the mode of interaction between Atg8 and Atg3 is quite similar to that between Atg8/LC3 and the Atg8 family interacting motif (AIM) conserved in autophagic receptors, such as Atg19 and p62. Thus, the WEDL sequence in Atg3 is a canonical AIM. In vitro analyses showed that Atg3 AIM is crucial for the transfer of Atg8 from the Atg8∼Atg3 thioester intermediate to phosphatidylethanolamine but not for the formation of the intermediate. Intriguingly, in vivo experiments showed that it is necessary for the Cvt pathway but not for starvation-induced autophagy. Atg3 AIM attenuated the inhibitory effect of Atg19 on Atg8 lipidation in vitro, suggesting that Atg3 AIM may be important for the lipidation of Atg19-bound Atg8 during the Cvt pathway.

Daniel Klionsky: A full plate for autophagy

Klionsky proves that those who can, teach as well as do.

A novel vision to the process of ERpahgy in yeast

Under oxidative stresses, accumulation of misfolded protein in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) activates downstream pathway ‐ the unfolded protein response (UPR) to protect cells. Autopahgy, on the other hand, is another protective response to cope with cellular stresses in eukaryotes, which involves in the degradation of cytosolic proteins and defective organelles. It is known that the ER‐selective autophagy, or ERphagy, will be induced during ER stresses and serve a protective role to maintain cell survival. However, the correlation of ERphagy with other type of autophagy is not clear. Here, we show that ERphagy is a selective process distinct from the cytoplasm‐to‐vacuole targeting (Cvt) pathway and the non‐selective macroautophagy. We found that under the dithiothreitol (DTT)‐induced ER stress, the ER‐containing autophagosomes (ERAs) would tend to accumulate in cytoplasm rather than fuse with vacuoles rapidly. However, soon after DTT is removed, ERAs will start to fuse with vacuoles and be degraded. We also discovered that the Cvt pathway would be partially inhibited at the vesicle forming stage during ERphagy, causing the delayed maturation phenotype of prApe1. Nevertheless, ERphagy seems to have limited effect on the process of the starvation–induced macroautophagy, and starvation treatment would not promote the clearance of accumulated ERAs in cytoplasm either. Taken these together, ERphagy as a selective process may compete with the Cvt pathway for utilizing the share of common regulatory machinery, but not preferable to the starvation‐induced macroautophagy.NSC96‐2311‐B‐002‐012‐MY3

Roles of the Lipid-binding Motifs of Atg18 and Atg21 in the Cytoplasm to Vacuole Targeting Pathway and Autophagy

Atg18 and Atg21 are homologous WD-40 repeat proteins that bind phosphoinositides via a novel conserved Phe-Arg-Arg-Gly motif and function in autophagy-related pathways. Atg18 is required for the cytoplasm to vacuole targeting (Cvt) pathway and autophagy, whereas Atg21 is only required for the Cvt pathway. Currently, the functions of both proteins are poorly understood. Here, we examined the relationship between the phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns(3)P)-binding abilities of Atg18 and Atg21 and autophagy by expressing variants of these proteins that have mutations in their phosphoinositide-binding motifs. Cells expressing PtdIns(3)P-binding mutants of both these proteins showed highly reduced autophagy. Furthermore, the localization of components of two related ubiquitin-like protein conjugation systems, Atg8 and Atg16, to the phagophore assembly site is affected. Consistent with the aberrant localization of the above Atg proteins, precursor Ape1, a cargo of the Cvt pathway and autophagy, is partially protease-sensitive in starvation conditions. This finding suggests a requirement for the PtdIns(3)P binding capability of Atg18 and Atg21 in efficient completion of the sequestering autophagic vesicles. Finally, using a multiple knock-out strain, we found that Atg18 and Atg21 facilitate the recruitment of Atg8-PE to the site of autophagosome formation and protect it from premature cleavage by Atg4, which represents a key aspect of post-translational autophagy regulation. Taken together, our results suggest that PtdIns(3)P binding by at least Atg18 or Atg21 is required for robust autophagic activity and that the PtdIns(3)P-binding motifs of Atg18 and Atg21 can compensate for one another in the recruitment of Atg components that are dependent on PtdIns(3)P for their phagophore assembly site association.

Autophagy pathway intersects with HIV-1 biosynthesis and regulates viral yields in macrophages

Autophagy is a cytoplasmic degradative pathway that can participate in biosynthetic processes, as in the yeast Cvt pathway, but is more commonly known for its functions in removing damaged or surplus organelles and macromolecular complexes. Here, we find that autophagy intersects with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) biogenesis, mirroring the above dichotomy. Early, nondegradative stages of autophagy promoted HIV yields. HIV Gag-derived proteins colocalized and interacted with the autophagy factor LC3, and autophagy promoted productive Gag processing. Nevertheless, when autophagy progressed through maturation stages, HIV was degraded. This, however, does not occur, as the HIV protein Nef acts as an antiautophagic maturation factor through interactions with the autophagy regulatory factor Beclin 1, thus protecting HIV from degradation. The dual interaction of HIV with the autophagy pathway enhances viral yields by using the early stages while inhibiting the late stages of autophagy. The role of Nef in the latter process enhances yields of infectious HIV and may be of significance for progression to clinical AIDS.

Crystallization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-mannosidase, a cargo protein of the Cvt pathway.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-mannosidase (Ams1) is a cargo protein that is transported to the vacuole by the cytoplasm-to-vacuole targeting (Cvt) pathway during conditions of growth and by autophagy during conditions of starvation. After transport to the vacuole, Ams1 functions as a resident hydrolase. Ams1 has been overexpressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris, purified and crystallized in two crystal forms. Form I belongs to space group P2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 145.7, b = 127.7, c = 164.0 A, beta = 101.5 degrees . Form II belongs to space group I222 or I2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 127.9, b = 163.7, c = 291.5 A. Diffraction data were collected from these crystals to a resolution of 3.3 A for form I and of 2.6 A for form II using synchrotron radiation.

Atg17 recruits Atg9 to organize the pre‐autophagosomal structure

Autophagy is a degradation system of cytoplasmic proteins and organelles via formation of double-membrane vesicles called autophagosomes. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, autophagosomes are formed via the pre-autophagosomal structure (PAS) in a manner dependent on Atg proteins. Under nutrient-rich condition, Atg9 is recruited to the PAS by binding to Atg11 for the Cvt pathway. However, because Atg9 is recruited to the PAS in atg11Delta cells in starved condition and autophagy is induced, autophagy-specific mechanism for the Atg9 recruitment to the PAS has been assumed. Here, we demonstrate that, in autophagy-inducing condition, Atg9 is recruited to the PAS in a manner dependent on Atg17. Atg9 physically interacts with Atg17 in the presence of rapamycin. This interaction requires Atg1, a protein kinase essential for autophagy. Consistently, the Atg17-dependent PAS localization of Atg9 requires Atg1. However, its kinase activity is dispensable for this process. It rather regulates the equilibrium of assembly and disassembly of Atg9 at the PAS.

Evidence for Yeast Autophagy during Simulation of Sparkling Wine Aging: A Reappraisal of the Mechanism of Yeast Autolysis in Wine

Yeast autolysis is the source of several molecules responsible for the quality of wines aged in contact with yeast cells. However, the mechanisms of yeast autolysis during wine aging are not completely understood. All descriptions of yeast autolysis in enological conditions emphasize the disturbance of cell organization as the starting event in the internal digestion of the cell, while no reference to autophagy is found in wine-related literature. By using yeast mutants defective in the autophagic or the Cvt pathways we have demonstrated that autophagy does take place in wine production conditions. This finding has implications for the genetic improvement of yeasts for accelerated autolysis.

Organization of the Pre-autophagosomal Structure Responsible for Autophagosome Formation

Autophagy induced by nutrient depletion is involved in survival during starvation conditions. In addition to starvation-induced autophagy, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae also has a constitutive autophagy-like system, the Cvt pathway. Among 31 autophagy-related (Atg) proteins, the function of Atg17, Atg29, and Atg31 is required specifically for autophagy. In this study, we investigated the role of autophagy-specific (i.e., non-Cvt) proteins under autophagy-inducing conditions. For this purpose, we used atg11Delta cells in which the Cvt pathway is abrogated. The autophagy-unique proteins are required for the localization of Atg proteins to the pre-autophagosomal structure (PAS), the putative site for autophagosome formation, under starvation condition. It is likely that these Atg proteins function as a ternary complex, because Atg29 and Atg31 bind to Atg17. The Atg1 kinase complex (Atg1-Atg13) is also essential for recruitment of Atg proteins to the PAS. The assembly of Atg proteins to the PAS is observed only under autophagy-inducing conditions, indicating that this structure is specifically involved in autophagosome formation. Our results suggest that Atg1 complex and the autophagy-unique Atg proteins cooperatively organize the PAS in response to starvation signals.

Autophagy Is Involved in Nutritional Stress Response and Differentiation in Trypanosoma cruzi

Autophagy is the major mechanism used by eukaryotic cells to degrade and recycle proteins and organelles. Bioinformatics analysis of the genome of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi revealed the presence of all components of the Atg8 conjugation system, whereas Atg12, Atg5, and Atg10 as the major components of the Atg12 pathway could not be identified. The two TcATG4 (autophagin) homologs present in the genome were found to correctly process the two ATG8 homologs after the conserved Gly residue. Functional studies revealed that both ATG4 homologues but only one T. cruzi ATG8 homolog (TcATG8.1) complemented yeast deletion strains. During starvation of the parasite, TcAtg8.1, but not TcAtg8.2, was found by immunofluorescence to be located in autophagosome-like vesicles. This confirms its function as an Atg8/LC3 homolog and its potential to be used as an autophagosomal marker. Most importantly, autophagy is involved in differentiation between developmental stages of T. cruzi, a process that is essential for parasite maintenance and survival. These findings suggest that the autophagy pathway could represent a target for a novel chemotherapeutic strategy against Chagas disease.

A Cycling Protein Complex Required for Selective Autophagy

Survival of environmental stress conditions requires the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. To preserve this balance, cells utilize a degradative mechanism known as autophagy. During this process, in response to starvation or other stresses, bulk cytoplasm is non-specifically sequestered within double-membrane vesicles and delivered to the lysosome/vacuole for subsequent degradation and recycling. The cytoplasm to vacuole targeting (Cvt) pathway is a type of specific autophagy, which occurs constitutively during growing conditions. Here, we examine three autophagy-related (Atg) proteins, Atg9, Atg23 and Atg27, which exhibit a unique localization pattern, residing both at the pre-autophagosomal structure (PAS) and other peripheral sites. These proteins colocalize, interact with one another in vivo, and form a functional complex. Furthermore, all three proteins cycle between the PAS and the other sites, and depend upon one another for this movement. Our data suggest that Atg9, Atg23 and Atg27 play a role in Atg protein retrieval from the PAS. In addition, Atg9 and Atg27 are the only known integral membrane Atg proteins involved in vesicle formation; a better understanding of their function may offer insight into the mechanism of membrane delivery to the PAS, the site of double-membrane vesicle assembly.