title: Structural biology of the core autophagy machinery.
abstract: In autophagy, which is an intracellular degradation system that is conserved among eukaryotes, degradation targets are sequestered through the de novo synthesis of a double-membrane organelle, the autophagosome, which delivers them to the lysosomes for degradation. The core autophagy machinery comprising 18 autophagy-related (Atg) proteins in yeast plays an essential role in autophagosome formation; however, the molecular role of each Atg factor and the mechanism of autophagosome formation remain elusive. Recent years have seen remarkable progress in structural biological studies on the core autophagy machinery, opening new avenues for autophagy research. This review summarizes recent advances in structural biological and mechanistic studies on the core autophagy machinery and discusses the molecular mechanisms of autophagosome formation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbial Chemistry, Microbial Chemistry Research Foundation, 3-14-23 Kamiosaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0021, Japan.
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbial Chemistry, Microbial Chemistry Research Foundation, 3-14-23 Kamiosaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0021, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Osawa
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbial Chemistry, Microbial Chemistry Research Foundation, 3-14-23 Kamiosaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0021, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujioka
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbial Chemistry, Microbial Chemistry Research Foundation, 3-14-23 Kamiosaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0021, Japan. Electronic address: nn@bikaken.or.jp.
authors.forename: Nobuo N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Noda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001343:Autophagy; D000071183:Autophagy-Related Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000071183:Autophagy-Related Proteins; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases