Autophagy of the ER: the secretome finds the lysosome

Abstract

Lysosomal degradation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and its components through the autophagy pathway has emerged as a major regulator of ER proteostasis. Commonly referred to as ER‐phagy and ER‐to‐lysosome‐associated degradation (ERLAD), how the ER is targeted to the lysosome has been recently clarified by a growing number of studies. Here, we summarize the discoveries of the molecular components required for lysosomal degradation of the ER and their proposed mechanisms of action. Additionally, we discuss how cells employ these machineries to create the different routes of ER‐lysosome‐associated degradation. Further, we review the role of ER‐phagy in viral infection pathways, as well as the implication of ER‐phagy in human disease. In sum, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current field of ER‐phagy.

Understanding the Molecular Actions of Spike Glycoprotein in SARS-CoV-2 and Issues of a Novel Therapeutic Strategy for the COVID-19 Vaccine

“…Viral proteins bud into the endoplasmic reticulum, form an envelope, and then hijack lysosomes to exit the cell [203][204][205]. Exiting the cell via the Golgi complex or lysosome takes longer and is less efficient than budding from the cell membrane.…”