Chaperone-mediated autophagy degrades SERPINA1^E342K/α1-antitrypsin Z variant and alleviates cell stress.

ABSTRACT: Chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) is a specific form of autophagy that selectively targets proteins containing a KFERQ-like motif and relies on the chaperone protein HSPA8/HSC70 for substrate recognition. In SERPINA1/a1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), a disease characterized by the hepatic buildup of the SERPINA1^E342K/ATZ, CMA's role had been unclear. This work demonstrates the critical role that CMA plays in preventing SERPINA1^E342K/ATZ accumulation; suppressing CMA worsens SERPINA1^E342K/ATZ accumulation while activating it through chemical stimulation or LAMP2A overexpression promotes SERPINA1^E342K/ATZ breakdown. Specifically, SERPINA1^E342K/ATZ's ₁₂₁QELLR₁₂₅ motif is critical for HSPA8/HSC70 recognition and LAMP

SUBMITTER: Lin J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12282993 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature