Intracellular Degradation by Autophagy and Its Related Pathways

Abstract

Autophagy is an intracellular degradation system conserved in many eukaryotes. In the process of autophagy, a portion of the cytoplasm is surrounded by autophagosomes and then delivered to lysosomes for degradation. Studies on the molecular mechanism and physiological function of autophagy have made remarkable progress over the past 30 years since the landmark genetic studies in yeast by Dr. OHSUMI and other groups. In this seminar, the speaker will discuss some recent topics on autophagosome-lysosome fusion and the reversibility of cellular dysfunction caused by autophagy defects. In addition to these autophagy-dependent pathways, the speaker will show a new organelle degradation system in the lens, which is mediated by the cytosolic lipase PLAAT (phospholipase A and acyltransferase) family.

About the Speaker

Prof. Noboru MIZUSHIMA earned his MD and PhD from Tokyo Medical and Dental University, completing his medical education between 1985 and 1996. He began his research career as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Assistant Professor at the National Institute for Basic Biology. He later led a laboratory at the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science before returning to Tokyo Medical and Dental University as a Professor. Since 2012, he has served as Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Tokyo, and in 2021, he was appointed the Vice Dean of its Graduate School and Faculty of Medicine.

Prof. Mizushima is a globally recognized leader in autophagy research. His pioneering work has significantly advanced the understanding of autophagosome formation, autophagy-related genes, and their roles in physiology and disease. He has published extensively in top-tier journals such as Nature, Cell, Science, and EMBO Journal, with an H-index of 137 and over 140,000 citations. His studies have explored mechanisms of organelle degradation, mitophagy, and autophagy's role in development and neurodegeneration. He also contributes to the scientific community as an editor and reviewer for several prestigious journals including eLife and Cell Structure and Function.

Prof. Mizushima has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing his scientific achievements. These include the 2008 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Prize, the 2009 Inoue Prize for Science, the 2011 Takeda Prize for Medical Science, and the 2021 Medal with Purple Ribbon. He was named a Thomson Reuters Citation Laureate in 2013 and received the Beth Levine, M.D. Prize in Autophagy Research in 2023. His leadership roles include serving as President of the Japanese Biochemistry Society and the Japan Society of Cell Biology, reflecting his influence in the broader scientific community.

For Attendees' Attention

Seating is on a first come, first served basis.