Autophagy has been known for over 50 years but its fundamental importance in physiology and medicine was only recognized after Yoshinori Ohsumi's paradigm-shifting research in the 1990's.
The experiment by 2016 Medicine Laureate Yoshinori Ohsumi demonstrated that autophagy exists in yeast. Ohsumi studied thousands of yeast mutants and identified 15 genes that are essential for autophagy. But even more importantly, he now had a method to identify and characterize key genes involved in this process. This was a major break through and Ohsumi published the results in 1992. First key publication: Takeshige, K., Baba, M., Tsuboi, S., Noda, T, and Ohsumi, Y. (1992). Autophagy in yeast demonstrated with proteinase-defifient mutants and conditoins for its induction. Journal of Cell Biology 119, 301-3011
The term "autophagy" was coined by Christian de Duve in 1963. Our bodies are made up of cells that contain organelles, components with various functions, Albert Claude's research with the newly developed electron microscope and his methods for separating the various parts of pulverized cells using a centrifuge opened up new opportunities for studying cells in detail. In 1995, Christian de Duve discovered previously unknown organelles in the cell, lysosomes. These have important functions in decomposing different types of materials, such as bacteria and parts of cells that have worn out. In 1974 de Duve shared the Nobel Prize in Medicine for discovering the lysosome.
Thanks to Ohsumi and others following in his footsteps, we now know that autophagy controls important physiological functions where cellular components need to be degraded and recycled. Autophagy can rapidly provide fuel for energy and building blocks for renewal of cellular components, and is therefore essential for the cellular response to starvation and other types of stress. After infection, autophagy can eliminate invading intracellular bacteria and viruses. Autophagy contributes to embryo development and cell differentiation. Cells also use autophagy to eliminate damaged proteins and organelles, a quality control mechanism that is critical for counteracting the negative consequences of aging.
Disrupted autophagy has been linked to Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes and other disorders that appear in the elderly. Mutations in autophagy genes can cause genetic disease. Disturbances in the autophagic machinery have also been linked to cancer. Intense research is now ongoing to develop drugs that can target autophagy in various diseases.
The experiment by 2016 Medicine Laureate Yoshinori Ohsumi demonstrated that autophagy exists in yeast. Ohsumi studied thousands of yeast mutants and identified 15 genes that are essential for autophagy. But even more importantly, he now had a method to identify and characterize key genes involved in this process. This was a major break through and Ohsumi published the results in 1992. First key publication: Takeshige, K., Baba, M., Tsuboi, S., Noda, T, and Ohsumi, Y. (1992). Autophagy in yeast demonstrated with proteinase-defifient mutants and conditoins for its induction. Journal of Cell Biology 119, 301-3011
The term "autophagy" was coined by Christian de Duve in 1963. Our bodies are made up of cells that contain organelles, components with various functions, Albert Claude's research with the newly developed electron microscope and his methods for separating the various parts of pulverized cells using a centrifuge opened up new opportunities for studying cells in detail. In 1995, Christian de Duve discovered previously unknown organelles in the cell, lysosomes. These have important functions in decomposing different types of materials, such as bacteria and parts of cells that have worn out. In 1974 de Duve shared the Nobel Prize in Medicine for discovering the lysosome.
Thanks to Ohsumi and others following in his footsteps, we now know that autophagy controls important physiological functions where cellular components need to be degraded and recycled. Autophagy can rapidly provide fuel for energy and building blocks for renewal of cellular components, and is therefore essential for the cellular response to starvation and other types of stress. After infection, autophagy can eliminate invading intracellular bacteria and viruses. Autophagy contributes to embryo development and cell differentiation. Cells also use autophagy to eliminate damaged proteins and organelles, a quality control mechanism that is critical for counteracting the negative consequences of aging.
Disrupted autophagy has been linked to Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes and other disorders that appear in the elderly. Mutations in autophagy genes can cause genetic disease. Disturbances in the autophagic machinery have also been linked to cancer. Intense research is now ongoing to develop drugs that can target autophagy in various diseases.
1 comment:
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