The Autophagy-Lysosome Pathway

The Autophagy-Lysosome Pathway

We aim to identify and elucidate key unresolved issues regarding the coordination of metabolic signaling, DNA replication, lipid transport, cell division and intracellular pH by cellular recycling machineries, with specific focus on the role of intrinsically disordered proteins and the possibility of targeting them therapeutically.

Particular attention will be devoted to:

• structure-function studies of the scaffolding proteins AMBRA1 and CIP2A, which we have identified as key platforms for the regulation of cellular metabolism, autophagy and malignant transformation
• the emerging functional links between replication stress and the autophagy machinery
• structure-function studies of the transmembrane autophagy protein ATG9A, which we have identified as a putative lipid transporter involved in vesicle biogenesis
• the newly discovered physiological roles of lysosomal leakage and the molecular mechanisms behind them
• the lysosomal control of intracellular pH homeostasis