ATG16L1 induces the formation of phagophore-like membrane cups.

The hallmark of non-selective autophagy is the formation of cup-shaped phagophores that capture bulk cytoplasm. The process is accompanied by the conjugation of LC3B to phagophores by an E3 ligase complex comprising ATG12-ATG5 and ATG16L1. Here we combined two complementary reconstitution approaches to reveal the function of LC3B and its ligase complex during phagophore expansion.

TECPR1 promotes aggrephagy by direct recruitment of LC3C autophagosomes to lysosomes.

The accumulation of protein aggregates is involved in the onset of many neurodegenerative diseases. Aggrephagy is a selective type of autophagy that counteracts neurodegeneration by degrading such aggregates. In this study, we found that LC3C cooperates with lysosomal TECPR1 to promote the degradation of disease-related protein aggregates in neural stem cells.

Biochemical and Molecular Characterization of Carotenogenic Flavobacterial Isolates from Marine Waters.

Carotenoids are known to possess immense nutraceutical properties and microorganisms are continuously being explored as natural source for production of carotenoids. In this study, pigmented bacteria belonging to Flavobacteriaceae family were isolated using kanamycin-containing marine agar and identified using the molecular techniques and their phenotypic characteristics were studied along with their potential to produce carotenoids. Analysis of random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) banding patterns and the fragment size of the bands indicated that the 10 isolates fall under two major groups.

Protective effect of shrimp carotenoids against ammonia stress in common carp, Cyprinus carpio.

This study is aimed at evaluating the protective effect of shrimp carotenoids on ammonia stress in common carp. Crude carotenoid extract from shrimp exoskeleton, astaxanthin and astaxanthin ester fractionated from crude extract was fed to the common carp fingerlings at 100 and 200ppm concentration by incorporating carotenoids into feed. Experimental and control fish were then exposed to sublethal dose of ammonia.