Vacuole articles from across Nature Portfolio

Nanobody-epitope interaction-based analysis of the Arabidopsis VACUOLAR SORTING RECEPTOR7 (VSR7) suggests immobilization-based ligand transport to the TGN/EE and ends due to acidity-driven ligand release and clathrin-dependent receptor recycling.

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.

Congenital scoliosis is a complex genetic disorder characterized by vertebral malformation. Here, the authors demonstrate that loss of dstyk leads to scoliosis in zebrafish due to dysregulated biogenesis of notochord vacuoles and that DSTYK is required for lysosome biogenesis through mTORC1 regulation.

Vacuolar sorting receptors (VSRs) are suggested to efficiently transport hydrolases by continuous cycling. Here, the authors use a nanobody-epitope interaction-based labeling approach to trace VSR recycling from the TGN/EE to the cis-Golgi and reveal ligand reloading of recycled VSRs.

How do metabolic stresses trigger catabolic autophagy for cell survival? A study now reveals that the metabolite sensor Pho81 integrates into and activates the kinase activity of the Atg1 complex for pexophagy triggered by phosphate starvation. This demonstrates the plasticity of the autophagy-initiating Atg1 complex.