David Rubinsztein: Autophagy 1 – How Cells Dispose of Molecular Trash

Even as the carry out their usual functions molecular components of cells are damaged by oxygen free radicals and other processes. Cells remove such cellular trash by moving it into ‘acid baths’ called lysosomes in a process called autophagy. Research during the past 30 years has revealed the molecular mechanisms of autophagy and have provided evidence that impaired autophagy occurs in neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease.  In this episode professor David Rubinsztein provides an historical perspective on the discovery of autophagy and the current understanding of the molecular regulation of this fascinating process.

 LINKS:

Professor Rubinsztein’s lab page: 

https://www.cimr.cam.ac.uk/staff/professor-david-rubinsztein-fmedsci-frs

Review on autophagy:

file:///Users/markmattson/Downloads/s41580-020-0241-0.pdf 

Review on autophagy in neurodegenerative disorders:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8930707/pdf/nihms-1771452.pdf