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- Title
A balancing act for autophagin.
- Authors
Till, Andreas; Subramani, Suresh
- Abstract
Autophagy is a tightly regulated catabolic process whereby cells degrade their constituents to dispose of unwanted cytoplasmic elements and recycle nutrients for cellular remodeling. Studies of autophagy in mammals have elicited substantial interest because it is linked to a range of physiologic and pathologic states. In this issue of the JCI, Mariño et al. uncover a role for autophagy in a balance disorder related to inner ear pathologies. Mice lacking the protease autophagy-related 4B (Atg4b, also known as autophagin-1) exhibited a systemic reduction in autophagy and showed defects in the development of otoconia, organic particles that contain calcium carbonate crystals and proteins and that are essential for balance perception (equilibrioception) in mammals. The intriguing aspect of this work is that an autophagy block impairs the secretion and assembly of otoconial proteins, emphasizing a role for autophagy in functions distinct from macromolecule degradation.
- Subjects
AUTOPHAGY; MACROMOLECULES; CELL membranes; MOLECULAR biology; OTOLITHS; LABORATORY mice; CALCIUM; COMPARATIVE studies; INNER ear; RESEARCH methodology; MEDICAL cooperation; PROTEINS; RESEARCH; RESEARCH funding; VESTIBULAR apparatus; EVALUATION research
- Publication
Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2010, Vol 120, Issue 7, p2273
- ISSN
0021-9738
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1172/JCI43238