BNIP3L/NIX is required for elimination of mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus during eye lens organelle-free zone formation.

ABSTRACT: The formation and life-long growth of the ocular lens depends on the continuous differentiation of lens epithelial cells into lens fiber cells. To achieve their mature structure and transparent function, newly formed lens fiber cells undergo a series of cellular remodeling events including the complete elimination of cellular organelles to form the lens organelle-free zone (OFZ). To date, the mechanisms and requirements for organelle elimination by lens fiber cells remain to be fully elucidated. In previous studies, we detected the presence of mitochondria contained within autophagolysosomes throughout human and chick lenses suggesting that proteins targeting mitochondria for degradation by mitophagy could be required for the elimination of mitochondria during OFZ formation. Consistently,

SUBMITTER: Brennan LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6110959 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature