The roles of monomeric GTP-binding proteins in macroautophagy in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Int J Mol Sci. 2014 Oct 9;15(10):18084-101. doi: 10.3390/ijms151018084.

Abstract

Autophagy is a cellular degradation process that sequesters components into a double-membrane structure called the autophagosome, which then fuses with the lysosome or vacuole for hydrolysis and recycling of building blocks. Bulk phase autophagy, also known as macroautophagy, controlled by specific Atg proteins, can be triggered by a variety of stresses, including starvation. Because autophagy relies extensively on membrane traffic to form the membranous structures, factors that control membrane traffic are essential for autophagy. Among these factors, the monomeric GTP-binding proteins that cycle between active and inactive conformations form an important group. In this review, we summarize the functions of the monomeric GTP-binding proteins in autophagy, especially with reference to experiments in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Autophagy*
  • Humans
  • Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • ras Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins
  • ras Proteins