Where do they come from? Insights into autophagosome formation

Hamasaki, Maho; Yoshimori, Tamotsu

doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2010.02.061

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Volume 584, Issue 7 , Pages 1296-1301, 2 April 2010

Where do they come from? Insights into autophagosome formation

Edited by Noboru Mizushima

Department of Cellular Regulation, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan

Received 22 January 2010; received in revised form 22 February 2010; accepted 23 February 2010. published online 25 February 2010.

Abstract

Autophagosomes (APs) are unique organelles that enwrap cytoplasmic components when necessary. APs then fuse with lysosomes and enclosed materials are degraded. Although approximately 30 autophagy-related genes (ATG) required for AP formation have been identified, fundamental questions on the membrane source or dynamics during the formation remain unresolved. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of the putative membrane sources identified to date.

Abbreviations: PAS, pre-autophagosome structure, AP, autophagosome, AB, autophagic bodies, ER, endoplasmic reticulum, EM, electron microscopy, IM, isolation membrane, PI3P, phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate