Function and regulation of ULK1: From physiology to pathology

Ze Rong; Kaifeng Zheng; Jun Chen; Xiaofeng Jin

doi:10.1016/j.gene.2022.146772

Function and regulation of ULK1: From physiology to pathology

Gene. 2022 Oct 5:840:146772. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146772. Epub 2022 Jul 26.

Authors

Ze Rong¹, Kaifeng Zheng¹, Jun Chen², Xiaofeng Jin³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; Department of Chemoradiotherapy, the Affiliated People's Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315040, China.
² Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; Department of Chemoradiotherapy, the Affiliated People's Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315040, China. Electronic address: cjcj992@163.com.
³ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; Department of Chemoradiotherapy, the Affiliated People's Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315040, China. Electronic address: jinxiaofeng@nbu.edu.cn.

PMID: 35905845
DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146772

Abstract

The expression of ULK1, a core protein of autophagy, is closely related to autophagic activity. Numerous studies have shown that pathological abnormal expression of ULK1 is associated with various human diseases such as neurological disorders, infections, cardiovascular diseases, liver diseases and cancers. In addition, new advances in the regulation of ULK1 have been identified. Furthermore, targeting ULK1 as a therapeutic strategy for diseases is gaining attention as new corresponding activators or inhibitors are being developed. In this review, we describe the structure and regulation of ULK1 as well as the current targeted activators and inhibitors. Moreover, we highlight the pathological disorders of ULK1 expression and its critical role in human diseases.

Keywords: Autophagy; Cancer; Cell and molecular biology; Kinase; Post-translational modification; ULK1.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Autophagy* / physiology
Autophagy-Related Protein-1 Homolog / chemistry
Autophagy-Related Protein-1 Homolog / genetics
Autophagy-Related Protein-1 Homolog / metabolism*
Humans
Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / chemistry
Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
Neoplasms* / genetics

Substances

Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
Autophagy-Related Protein-1 Homolog
ULK1 protein, human