Autophagy mediated cellular quality control mechanisms in plants

Research Focus

Quality control pathways are essential for sustaining multicellular life in an ever-changing environment. By promptly tailoring the cellular proteome and organelles in a cell-type specific manner, they maintain the ability to respond to external changes, thereby maximizing organismal fitness. Selective autophagy is a potent quality control pathway that recycles damaged or unwanted macromolecules to keep cells healthy and in tune with the environment. So far, most of our insights into selective autophagy are derived from studies that utilize in vitro cell cultures. Addressing how selective autophagy contributes to cellular homeostasis in different cell types, and how this translates into overall performance of the organism, is extremely challenging and has therefore remained elusive. Our goal is to employ a multidisciplinary approach to study the role of selective autophagy in cellular quality control at a cell-type specific resolution.

News from the Dagdas Lab

Drawn by Dorotea Fracchiolla, Art&Science

 

Selected Publications

Picchianti L, Sanchez de Medina Hernandez V, ..., Dagdas Y (2023) Shuffled ATG8 interacting motifs form an ancestral bridge between UFMylation and autophagy. EMBO J 42(10):e112053 preprint bioRxiv:2022.04.26.489478.

Zhao J, Bui MT, ..., Dagdas Y (2022) Plant autophagosomes mature into amphisomes prior to their delivery to the central vacuole. J Cell Biol 221(12):e202203139 preprint bioRxiv:2022.02.26.482093.

Ma J, Liang Z, Zhao J, et al. (2021) Friendly mediates membrane depolarization-induced mitophagy in Arabidopsis. Curr Biol 31(9):1931-44 preprint bioRxiv:2020.07.12.198424.

Stephani M, Picchianti L, ..., Dagdas Y (2020) A cross-kingdom conserved ER-phagy receptor maintains endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis during stress. eLife:58396 preprint bioRxiv:995316.

Rodriguez E, Chevalier J, Olsen J, et al. (2020) Autophagy mediates temporary reprogramming and dedifferentiation in plant somatic cells. EMBO J 39(4):e103315 preprint bioRxiv:747410.

Zess EK, Jensen C, ... Dagdas Y (2019) N-terminal β-strand underpins biochemical specialization of an ATG8 isoform. PLoS Biol:3000373 preprint:  bioRxiv:453563.