Transcriptional and post-translational regulation of plant autophagy.

In response to changing environmental conditions, plants activate cellular responses to enable them to adapt. One such response is autophagy, in which cellular components, for example proteins and organelles, are delivered to the vacuole for degradation. Autophagy is activated by a wide range of conditions, and the regulatory pathways controlling this activation are now being elucidated.

VPS45 is required for both diffuse and tip growth of cells.

Introduction: VPS45 belongs to the Sec1/Munc18 family of proteins, which interact with and regulate Qa-SNARE function during membrane fusion. We have shown previously that VPS45 interacts with the SYP61/SYP41/VTI12 SNARE complex, which locates on the -Golgi network (TGN). It is required for SYP41 stability, and it functions in cargo trafficking to the vacuole and in cell expansion.