Molecular cellAug 1, 2020

A Stress-Activated Receptor Helps Clear Cell Factories to Protect Against Protein-Build-Up Stress

Longevity & Aging Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Feb 15, 2026

Abstract

ER-phagy is required for survival during ER stress in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

ER-phagy is triggered by stress in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).
Epr1 is a key receptor that interacts with Atg8 and is essential for ER-phagy.
Epr1 connects Atg8 to integral membrane proteins known as VAPs, facilitating ER-phagy.
VAPs not only tether Atg8 to the ER but also help maintain contact between the ER and plasma membrane.
Epr1 levels increase in response to ER stress signals from the unfolded protein response regulator Ire1.
Reducing Epr1 expression decreases survival chances during periods of ER stress.

Simplified

Autophagic degradation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER-phagy) is triggered by ER stress in diverse organisms. However, molecular mechanisms governing ER stress-induced ER-phagy remain insufficiently understood. Here we report that ER stress-induced ER-phagy in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe requires Epr1, a soluble Atg8-interacting ER-phagy receptor. Epr1 localizes to the ER through interacting with integral ER membrane proteins VAPs. Bridging an Atg8-VAP association is the main ER-phagy role of Epr1, as it can be bypassed by an artificial Atg8-VAP tether. VAPs contribute to ER-phagy not only by tethering Atg8 to the ER membrane, but also by maintaining the ER-plasma membrane contact. Epr1 is upregulated during ER stress by the unfolded protein response (UPR) regulator Ire1. Loss of Epr1 reduces survival against ER stress. Conversely, increasing Epr1 expression suppresses the ER-phagy defect and ER stress sensitivity of cells lacking Ire1. Our findings expand and deepen the molecular understanding of ER-phagy.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View Full Text ↗

Funding

Competing interests

Declaration of Interests The authors declare no competing interests.

PubMed

A Stress-Activated Receptor Helps Clear Cell Factories to Protect Against Protein-Build-Up Stress

Abstract

Full Text

Funding

Competing interests

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

What Lands in Your Inbox Each Week:

Recent issues from the longevity & aging brief