MCOLN3/TRPML3 bridges the regulation of autophagosome biogenesis by PtdIns3P and the calcium channel.
Yuchen LeiDaniel J KlionskyPublished in: Autophagy (2022)
In recent years, an increasing number of studies have started to investigate the roles of ions and ion channels in macroautophagy/autophagy. One finding is that calcium regulates multiple stages of autophagy with lysosomal calcium release being important for autophagosome and lysosome fusion. MCOLN3/TRPML3, as a calcium-permeable channel that is located on both lysosomes and autophagosomes, has been suggested as an autophagy regulator and a candidate to provide the calcium for autophagic fusion, but how this channel is activated remains unclear. In a recent article, Kim et al. demonstrate that MCOLN3 is a PtdIns3P downstream effector, and the activation of its channel function is critical for autophagosome biogenesis.