Work

Glycogen synthase is required for heat shock-mediated autophagy induction in neuronal cells

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Autophagy is an essential cellular process that facilitates the degradation of aggregated proteins and damaged organelles to maintain cellular homeostasis and promote cell survival. Recent studies have indicated a direct role for glycogen synthase (GS) in activating neuronal autophagy and in conferring protection against cytotoxic misfolded proteins. Since heat shock induces protein misfolding and autophagy is an essential component of the heat shock response that clears the misfolded proteins, we looked at the possible role of GS in heat shock response pathways in neuronal cells. We demonstrate an increase in the activity and level of GS and a concomitant increase in the glycogen level during the heat shock and post-heat shock recovery period. These changes had a direct correlation with autophagy induction. We further demonstrate that heat shock transcription factor 1 regulates the level and activation of GS during heat shock and that GS is essential for the induction of autophagy during heat stress in neuronal cells. Intriguingly, the partial knock-down of GS led to increased death due to heat shock in neuronal cells and Drosophila. Our study offers a novel insight into the role of GS and glycogen metabolic pathways in heat shock response in neuronal cells.

Source: Biology Open

DOI: 10.1242/bio.061605

Authors: Pratibha Bhadauriya, Akanksha Onkar, Kamali Nagarajan, Kavikumar Angamuthu Karuppusamy, Subramaniam Ganesh, Saloni Agarwal

Institution: Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

Language: English

Topic: Autophagy in Disease and Therapy

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,995