Inventive illustration of autophagy because it begins to surround broken mitochondria and different organelles. The pink hexagons depict the receptors and WIPI proteins, which begin the method. Credit score: Artwork&Science—Dorotea Fracchiolla
Autophagy is actually the “rubbish collection” of our cells. If there are issues on this course of, which is so essential for our well being, illnesses similar to Parkinson’s may result. Of their newest research, main cell biologists on the Max Perutz Labs on the College of Vienna investigated mitophagy—a type of autophagy—and got here to a exceptional conclusion: the researchers have described a brand new set off for mitophagy.
This discovery has led to a reassessment of the hierarchy of things that set off autophagy. The newly found signaling pathways may additionally open up novel therapeutic choices. The research has been revealed within the journal Nature Cell Biology.
Autophagy is a self-cleaning strategy of the cell and is essential for cell well being within the human physique. A classy molecular surveillance command identifies suspicious substances—damaged cell elements, clumped proteins and even pathogens—and initiates their removing.
Lastly, faulty cell elements are damaged down and recycled. Mitophagy is a type of autophagy during which mitochondria inside a cell are particularly degraded. Dysregulation of mitophagy is especially related to Parkinson’s illness. A greater understanding of this course of is due to this fact essential for combating Parkinson’s.
In a brand new research led by postdoctoral researcher Elias Adriaenssens from Sascha Martens’ group on the Max Perutz Labs on the College of Vienna, the scientists reveal a brand new mechanism for triggering mitophagy. Till now, analysis has targeted closely on the “PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway.” Signaling pathways are used to transmit data inside cells. These advanced networks of molecules management vital mobile features similar to progress, division, cell loss of life and, certainly, mitophagy.
“When we looked at the big picture, it became clear that, apart from the much-studied “PINK1/Parkin pathway,” there were huge gaps in our knowledge of other mitophagy pathways,” explains research chief Elias Adriaenssens. “Our laboratory has explored these neglected areas by using biochemical reconstitutions to gain fundamental mechanistic insights.”
Newly found pathways are not any exception
“We found that NIX and BNIP3—two known mitophagy receptors—can trigger autophagy without binding to FIP200 (a protein), which was quite unexpected,” explains Adriaenssens. FIP200 is taken into account important for triggering autophagy.
“This presented us with a puzzle. Despite extensive testing, we were unable to detect any interaction between FIP200 and either of the two receptors—which raises the crucial question of how they function without this supposedly crucial component.”
“This is an exciting discovery—it reveals a parallel trigger for selective autophagy. Instead of a single, universal mechanism, cells appear to use different molecular strategies depending on the receptor and context. Until now, no one has considered WIPI proteins to be key players in triggering autophagosome formation, but our discovery could change that view,” explains Adriaenssens.
Potential for brand new therapies for Parkinson’s illness
Wanting forward, the research raises an essential query: How do cells determine between various mitophagy signaling pathways—why do some receptors use one and others the opposite, and what components decide which pathway is used? Distinguishing between selective mitophagy signaling pathways may pave the best way for therapies that particularly activate one pathway to compensate for defects within the different, which has long-term potential for the therapy of Parkinson’s illness.
Extra data:
Elias Adriaenssens et al, Reconstitution of BNIP3/NIX-mitophagy initiation reveals hierarchical flexibility of the autophagy equipment, Nature Cell Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41556-025-01712-y
Supplied by
College of Vienna
Quotation:
Newly found mobile set off may result in potential therapies for Parkinson’s illness (2025, July 25)
retrieved 25 July 2025
from https://medicalxpress.com/information/2025-07-newly-cellular-trigger-therapies-parkinson.html
This doc is topic to copyright. Aside from any truthful dealing for the aim of personal research or analysis, no
half could also be reproduced with out the written permission. The content material is supplied for data functions solely.
