Regulatory mechanisms of mitophagy in yeast

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects Vol. 1865; no. 5; p. 129858
• Main Authors: Liu, Yang, Okamoto, Koji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.05.2021
• Subjects: acetylation; apoptosis; Atg32; Autophagy; catabolism; dephosphorylation; energy metabolism; homeostasis; innate immunity; membrane proteins; methylation; Mitochondria; Mitophagy; phospholipids; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; transcription (genetics); Yeast; yeasts; Atg32; Mitochondria; Yeast; Mitophagy; Autophagy
• ISSN: 0304-4165; 1872-8006; 1872-8006
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2021.129858

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles functioning in diverse reactions and processes such as energy metabolism, apoptosis, innate immunity, and aging, whose quality and quantity control is critical for cell homeostasis. Mitochondria-specific autophagy, termed mitophagy, is an evolutionarily conserved process that selectively degrades mitochondria via autophagy, thereby contributing to mitochondrial quality and quantity control. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the single-pass membrane protein Atg32 accumulates on the surface of mitochondria and recruit the autophagy machinery to initiate mitophagy. This catabolic process is elaborately regulated through transcriptional induction and post-translational modifications of Atg32. Notably, other factors acting in manifold pathways including protein N-terminal acetylation, phospholipid methylation, stress signaling, and endoplasmic reticulum-localized protein dephosphorylation and membrane protein insertion are also linked to mitophagy. Here we review recent discoveries of molecules regulating mitophagy in yeast. •Mitophagy is crucial for mitochondrial quality and quantity control.•Atg32 is the sole key factor essential and specific for mitophagy in yeast.•Mitochondrial dynamics, Tor signaling, and ER-associated pathways are involved in mitophagy.•Basic principles underlying receptor-mediated mitophagy are conserved from yeast to humans.