Noncanonical roles of ATG5 and membrane atg8ylation in retromer assembly and function.

ATG5 is one of the core autophagy proteins with additional functions such as noncanonical membrane atg8ylation, which among a growing number of biological outputs includes control of tuberculosis in animal models. Here we show that ATG5 associates with retromer's core components VPS26, VPS29 and VPS35 and modulates retromer function. Knockout of ATG5 blocked trafficking of a key glucose transporter sorted by the retromer, GLUT1, to the plasma membrane.

Membrane atg8ylation in Canonical and Noncanonical Autophagy.

Membrane atg8ylation is a homeostatic process responding to membrane remodeling and stress signals. Membranes are atg8ylated by mammalian ATG8 ubiquitin-like proteins through a ubiquitylation-like cascade. A model has recently been put forward which posits that atg8ylation of membranes is conceptually equivalent to ubiquitylation of proteins.

The role of ATG5 beyond Atg8ylation and autophagy.

ATG5 plays a pivotal role in membrane Atg8ylation, influencing downstream processes encompassing canonical autophagy and noncanonical processes. Remarkably, genetic ablation of ATG5 in myeloid cells leads to an exacerbated pathological state in murine models of tuberculosis, characterized by an early surge in mortality much more severe when compared to the depletion of other components involved in Atg8ylation or canonical autophagy. This study shows that in the absence of ATG5, but not other core canonical autophagy factors, endolysosomal organelles display a lysosomal hypersensitivity phenotype when subjected to damage.

Mammalian ATG8 proteins maintain autophagosomal membrane integrity through ESCRTs.

The canonical autophagy pathway in mammalian cells sequesters diverse cytoplasmic cargo within the double membrane autophagosomes that eventually convert into degradative compartments via fusion with endolysosomal intermediates. Here, we report that autophagosomal membranes show permeability in cells lacking principal ATG8 proteins (mATG8s) and are unable to mature into autolysosomes. Using a combination of methods including a novel in vitro assay to measure membrane sealing, we uncovered a previously unappreciated function of mATG8s to maintain autophagosomal membranes in a sealed state.

ATG5 provides host protection acting as a switch in the atg8ylation cascade between autophagy and secretion.

ATG5 is a part of the E3 ligase directing lipidation of ATG8 proteins, a process central to membrane atg8ylation and canonical autophagy. Loss of Atg5 in myeloid cells causes early mortality in murine models of tuberculosis. This in vivo phenotype is specific to ATG5.

Mammalian hybrid prophagophore is a precursor to autophagosomes.

The precursors to mammalian autophagosomes originate from preexisting membranes contributed by a number of sources, and subsequently enlarge through intermembrane lipid transfer, then close to sequester the cargo, and merge with lysosomes to degrade the cargo. Using cellular and in vitro membrane fusion analyses coupled with proteomic and biochemical studies we show that autophagosomes are formed from a hybrid membrane compartment referred to as a prophagophore or HyPAS (hybrid preautophagosomal structure). HyPAS is initially LC3-negative and subsequently becomes an LC3-positive phagophore.

Membrane Atg8ylation, stress granule formation, and MTOR regulation during lysosomal damage.

The functions of mammalian Atg8 proteins (mATG8s) expand beyond canonical autophagy and include processes collectively referred to as Atg8ylation. Global modulation of protein synthesis under stress conditions is governed by MTOR and liquid-liquid phase separated condensates containing ribonucleoprotein particles known as stress granules (SGs). We report that lysosomal damage induces SGs acting as a hitherto unappreciated inhibitor of protein translation via EIF2A/eIF2α phosphorylation while favoring an ATF4-dependent integrated stress response.

Stress granules and mTOR are regulated by membrane atg8ylation during lysosomal damage.

We report that lysosomal damage is a hitherto unknown inducer of stress granule (SG) formation and that the process termed membrane atg8ylation coordinates SG formation with mTOR inactivation during lysosomal stress. SGs were induced by lysosome-damaging agents including SARS-CoV-2ORF3a, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and proteopathic tau. During damage, mammalian ATG8s directly interacted with the core SG proteins NUFIP2 and G3BP1.

Mammalian hybrid pre-autophagosomal structure HyPAS generates autophagosomes.

The biogenesis of mammalian autophagosomes remains to be fully defined. Here, we used cellular and in vitro membrane fusion analyses to show that autophagosomes are formed from a hitherto unappreciated hybrid membrane compartment. The autophagic precursors emerge through fusion of FIP200 vesicles, derived from the cis-Golgi, with endosomally derived ATG16L1 membranes to generate a hybrid pre-autophagosomal structure, HyPAS.

ATG9A protects the plasma membrane from programmed and incidental permeabilization.

The integral membrane protein ATG9A plays a key role in autophagy. It displays a broad intracellular distribution and is present in numerous compartments, including the plasma membrane (PM). The reasons for the distribution of ATG9A to the PM and its role at the PM are not understood.

Evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid and blood parameters finding in early diagnosis and drug therapy of suspected bacterial meningitis in neonates.

Background: Whether early lumbar puncture (LP) and blood indicators are suitable as diagnostic criteria and helpful to treatment strategies for newborns remains to be solved. The study was to evaluate the value of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at the first LP and blood indicators at the similar time in the early diagnosis and the drug therapy of neonatal bacterial meningitis.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study of 997 infants with suspected bacterial meningitis between June 2012 and June 2018.

Effect of tobacco smoking on the epigenetic age of human respiratory organs.

Background: Smoking leads to the aging of organs. However, no studies have been conducted to quantify the effect of smoking on the aging of respiratory organs and the aging-reversing ability of smoking cessation.

Results: We collected genome-wide methylation datasets of buccal cells, airway cells, esophagus tissue, and lung tissue from non-smokers, smokers, and ex-smokers.

Infant's DNA Methylation Age at Birth and Epigenetic Aging Accelerators.

Knowing the biological age of the neonates enables us to evaluate and better understand the health and maturity comprehensively. However, because of dearth of biomarkers, it is difficult to quantify the neonatal biological age. Here we sought to quantify and assess the variability in biological age at birth and to better understand how the aging rates before birth are influenced by exposure in intrauterine period by employing a novel epigenetic biomarker of aging (epigenetic clock).

Genetic signature of strong recent positive selection at interleukin-32 gene in goat.

Objective: Identification of the candidate genes that play key roles in phenotypic variations can provide new information about evolution and positive selection. Interleukin (IL)-32 is involved in many biological processes, however, its role for the immune response against various diseases in mammals is poorly understood. Therefore, the current investigation was performed for the better understanding of the molecular evolution and the positive selection of single nucleotide polymorphisms in gene.

Genetic evaluation of ex situ conservation breeding projects of Cheer Pheasant (Catreus wallichii) and Western Tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus) in India.

When setting-up a captive population, genetic assessment of founders is essential to formulate effective breeding strategies that minimize the negative effects of inbreeding in the successive generations caused by mating between genetically related individuals. We carried out molecular genetic analysis of Cheer Pheasant and Western Tragopan populations of Chail and Sarahan Pheasantries in the State of Himachal Pradesh. The results revealed that the captive stock of Cheer Pheasant is sustaining well and does not exhibit signatures of inbreeding.

miRNA transcriptome of hypertrophic skeletal muscle with overexpressed myostatin propeptide.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an imperative role in cell proliferation, differentiation, and cell metabolism through regulation of gene expression. Skeletal muscle hypertrophy that results from myostatin depression by its propeptide provides an interesting model to understand how miRNA transcriptome is involved in myostatin-based fiber hypertrophy. This study employed Solexa deep sequencing followed by Q-PCR methods to analyze miRNA transcriptome of skeletal muscle of myostatin propeptide transgenic mice in comparison with their littermate controls.

Characterization of PRLR and PPARGC1A genes in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

More than 40 million households in India depend at least partially on livestock production. Buffaloes are one of the major milk producers in India. The prolactin receptor (PRLR) gene and peroxisome proliferators activated receptor-γ coactivator 1-alpha (PPARGC1A) gene are reportedly associated with milk protein and milk fat yields in Bos taurus.