Degradation of Cellular Components by Autophagy: from Molecules to Organelles.
Diane C Bassham, PH.D.
Iowa State University
Autophagy is a macromolecule degradation pathway in which cellular components are transported to the vacuole to recycle nutrients during nutrient deficiency and senescence and to clear damaged molecules and organelles during environmental stress. Autophagy therefore contributes to plant survival and growth during adverse environmental conditions. Autophagy can be non-selective, indiscriminately degrading cellular components, or selective, in which substrates for autophagy are recognized by receptor proteins and targeted for degradation. We are analyzing potential selective autophagy pathways, including degradation of the endoplasmic reticulum during ER stress and degradation of ribosomal RNA in a ribophagy-related process. We have shown that fragments of ER are incorporated into autophagosomes specifically during ER stress, and not in other stress conditions, and that this is triggered by the accumulation of unfolded and aggregated proteins. We have also identified a novel pathway for transport of rRNA into the vacuole and its subsequent degradation by the RNase RNS2, as a potential housekeeping mechanism to maintain ribosome homeostasis.
Time:Dec. 02th, 2014, 16:00.
Venue: New Biology Building, room 143
Host: Prof. Junbiao Dai and Prof. Yule Liu
举办单位:生命科学联合中心