Microsporidia are tiny parasites that must live inside other cells to survive. They have a knack for manipulating the host's cellular processes to their advantage. One such process is autophagy, which is like the cell's recycling system. It usually helps the host cell get rid of unwanted stuff, including invaders like parasites. But Microsporidia have found a way ...

Mitochondria are the powerhouses of cells, but they can also cause trouble when things go wrong. Two key factors that can indicate mitochondrial issues are levels of NAD(P)H and pH. These factors are closely linked to a process called mitochondrial autophagy, which is the cell's way of cleaning up damaged mitochondria. A new tool has been created to keep an eye on t...

The human body is a battleground. Every day, cells face off against invading bacteria. One such invader is Salmonella, a sneaky pathogen that can slip into the cytoplasm of epithelial cells. When this happens, the cell's defense system kicks into gear. This system is called xenophagy, a type of autophagy that targets foreign invaders. One key player in this defense ...

Plants have their own ways of staying healthy. Two key players in this defense system are ATG6 and NPR1. ATG6 is a gene linked to a process called autophagy, which helps plants break down and recycle their own components. NPR1, on the other hand, is a master regulator that coordinates the plant's immune responses. But how do these two work together? Recent findings s...

Ever heard of SIRT6? It's like a superhero protein in your cells, helping them stay young and healthy. So, how does it do this? Well, first, it helps fix damaged DNA. Imagine your cells have roads that sometimes get potholes; SIRT6 finds those potholes and fixes them, keeping the roads smooth. This is part of DNA repair. T...

Imagine tiny factories inside our body cells, constantly making proteins and repair kits to stay healthy. We all know that these factories in our cells produce and break down proteins. There are different ways to clean out old or damaged proteins. One of those cleanup methods is called chaperone-mediated autophagy. This pr...

You know those painful knee issues many people deal with as they age? It turns out, there’s a surprising connection to how our cells manage energy. Scientists discovered that a protein called FTO helps control a process in our cells called autophagy. Autophagy keeps cells healthy by recycling old parts and producing energy. When autophagy goes wrong, it can lead to m...

Diabetic heart disease, a common issue for people with type 2 diabetes, is still hard to prevent and treat. Scientists are exploring ways to protect the heart from this condition. One promising solution is GYY4137, a special molecule that slowly releases a gas called hydrogen sulfide. This gas can help protect heart cells. Researchers tested GYY4137 on mice with typ...

Ever heard of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF)? It's a brain protein that might be a game-changer in the fight against Parkinson's disease (PD). PD is the second most common brain disorder that causes dopamine neurons in the brain to die off over time. One of the main culprits is a protein called α-synuclein (SNCA), which can clump together ...

Ever thought of your brain as a bustling city with tiny garbage trucks inside? These are actually macroautophagy, the process our brain cells use to clean themselves. It's crucial for keeping our brains in tip-top shape. But drugs like cocaine, meth, opiates, or alcohol can give it a run for its money. When you first use these drugs, macroautophagy kicks into high g...