Cells regularly go through a process called autophagy — literally translated as ‘self-eating’ — which helps to destroy bacteria and viruses after infection. Now new research has shed light on the mechanisms behind autophagy and how it progresses — particularly relating to a process called liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS).

When it works, this process counteracts neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia and Huntington’s Disease, by getting rid of unwanted proteins and their resultant harm to cells.

But when autophagy fails or defects occur, it can give rise to such conditions.

Now new research by the University of Plymouth has shed light on the mechanisms behind autophagy and how it progresses — particularly relating to a process called liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS).

The paper was published today (Wednesday 21 August) in Nature Communications, and could provide the first steps towards new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

What does the science tell us?

The clearance of cell wastes by autophagy is controlled by two things involving a protein called p62 — firstly, a chemical process that sees p62 bind a number of identical molecules together (called oligomerisation), and secondly, p62’s separation of molecules within cell fluid. The demixing process is called liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS).

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