ER remodeling via ER-phagy

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a hotspot for many essential cellular functions. The ER membrane is highly dynamic, which affects many cellular processes that take place within the ER. One such process is ER-phagy, a selective degradation of ER fragments (including membranes and luminal content), which serves to preserve the size of ER while adapting its morphology under basal and stress conditions. In order to be degraded, the ER undergoes selective fragmentation facilitated by specialized ER-shaping proteins that also act as ER-phagy receptors. Their ability to sense and induce membrane curvature, as well as to bridge the ER with autophagy machinery, allows for a successful ER fragmentation and delivery of these fragments to the lysosome for degradation and recycling. In this review, we provide insights into ER-phagy from the perspective of membrane remodeling. We highlight the importance of ER membrane dynamics during ERphagy and emphasize how its dysregulation reflects on human physiology and pathology.

Automated summary

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is involved in many essential cellular processes, including ER-phagy. ER-phagy is a process that selectively degrades ER fragments to maintain ER size and morphology, and it relies on specialized ER-shaping proteins. This review provides insights into the membrane remodeling mechanisms of ER-phagy and emphasizes its significance in human physiology and pathology.