title: Chaperone-mediated autophagy: roles in neurodegeneration.
abstract: Chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) selectively delivers cytosolic proteins with an exposed CMA-targeting motif to lysosomes for degradation and plays an important role in protein quality control and cellular homeostasis. A growing body of evidence supports the hypothesis that CMA dysfunction may be involved in the pathogenic process of neurodegenerative diseases. Both down-regulation and compensatory up-regulation in CMA activities have been observed in association with neurodegenerative conditions. Recent studies have revealed several new mechanisms by which CMA function may be involved in the regulation of factors critical for neuronal viability and homeostasis. Here, we summarize these recent advances in the understanding of the relationship between CMA dysfunction and neurodegeneration and discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting CMA in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmacology and Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA ; Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmacology and Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA ; Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Zixu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mao
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Chaperone-mediated autophagy; Neurodegeneration; Parkinson’s disease; Protein posttranslational modifications