Autophagosomes

Autophagy is known to impact CD4+ T cell proliferation but the identity of autophagosomal components remain unclear. Here the authors leverage a transgenic mouse model to assess the autophagosomal compartment and identify interleukin-7 receptor-α as a key cargo in proliferating CD4+ T cells.

Zhou and colleagues identify SNX4–SNX5–SNX17 as a multiunit complex that mediates the recycling of autophagosomal components from autolysosomes.

Hypoxia induces mitochondrial clearance and autophagy, although the upstream mechanisms are not well defined. Here, the authors identify that oxygen-sensitive methylation of the key autophagy regulator ULK1 promotes ULK1 activation and subsequent autophagosome formation and mitochondrial clearance.

The molecular principles governing the initiation of autophagosome formation are not clearly understood. Here we show that the vacuolar protein Vac8 coordinates this process by promoting an avidity-driven assembly of several autophagy factors.

RIPK1 is critical for normal development and cell death. Here, the authors identify a metabolic role for RIPK1 in aspartate homeostasis, as increased aspartate levels in RIPK1-deficient cells inhibits starvation-induced autophagy by ULK1.