Biomechanically induced regulation of Damage-Regulated Autophagy Modulator 1 in periodontal cells and tissues.

Purpose: Autophagy is an important adaptive process for mechanotransduction, in which Damage-Regulated Autophagy Modulator 1 (DRAM1) has a key function in cell fate determination. This study aimed to analyze the influence of biomechanical loading on DRAM1 expression in periodontal cells and tissues.

Methods: Human periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblasts were stimulated with different pressure protocols, physiological load and overload, in the presence and absence of autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and compared with untreated cells.

RAB18 Loss Interferes With Lipid Droplet Catabolism and Provokes Autophagy Network Adaptations.

Autophagy is dependent on appropriate lipid supply for autophagosome formation. The regulation of lipid acquisition and the autophagy network response to lipid-limiting conditions are mostly elusive. Here, we show that the knockout of the RAB GTPase RAB18 interferes with lipid droplet catabolism, causing an impaired fatty acid release.

The RAB GTPase RAB18 modulates macroautophagy and proteostasis.

Macroautophagy is a conserved degradative pathway and its deterioration is linked to disturbances in cellular proteostasis and multiple diseases. Here, we show that the RAB GTPase RAB18 modulates autophagy in primary human fibroblasts. The knockdown of RAB18 results in a decreased autophagic activity, while its overexpression enhances the degradative pathway.

RAB3GAP1 and RAB3GAP2 modulate basal and rapamycin-induced autophagy.

Macroautophagy is a degradative pathway that sequesters and transports cytosolic cargo in autophagosomes to lysosomes, and its deterioration affects intracellular proteostasis. Membrane dynamics accompanying autophagy are mostly elusive and depend on trafficking processes. RAB GTPase activating proteins (RABGAPs) are important factors for the coordination of cellular vesicle transport systems, and several TBC (TRE2-BUB2-CDC16) domain-containing RABGAPs are associated with autophagy.