p62/SQSTM1: From a cell recycling helper to a key organizer of targeted recycling and stress response

p62 bodies form in response to proteotoxic stress and may act as platforms for autophagy-dependent degradation.

• Cells activate stress-response mechanisms to maintain balance when under stress.
• Dysregulation of these processes is linked to diseases like cancer, liver disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases.
• p62 plays a key role in regulating protein balance and stress responses through autophagy and signaling pathways.
• Liquid-liquid phase separation of p62 with ubiquitinated proteins leads to the formation of membraneless structures called p62 bodies.
• These p62 bodies sequester specific proteins and may facilitate both degradation and stress signaling.
• Recent findings suggest a shift in understanding p62 from a simple receptor to a complex signaling hub with higher-order assemblies.

Simplified