[an error occurred while processing this directive]

HEREDITAS(Beijing) ›› 2014, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (6): 547-551.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1005.2014.0547

• Reviews • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Molecular mechanisms of SNARE proteins in regulating autophagy

Yuanyuan Chen, Hongyan Chen, Daru Lu   

  1. State Key Laboratory of Genetics, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
  • Received:2013-12-09 Revised:2014-01-14 Online:2014-06-20 Published:2014-05-28

Abstract:

Autophagy is a self-protective mechanism that degrades inner and outer invaded substances to sustain self-maintenance. SNARE (Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors) hypothesis suggests important roles of SNARE proteins in the cellular activities of substance transport and specific membrane fusion, unveiling the molecular mechanisms of normal and physiological activities within a cell. Since autophagy involves membrane fusions from the birth of autophagosomes to the formation of autolysosomes, we review recent research progress on the roles of SNARE proteins in regulating autophagy.

Key words: autophagy, SNARE hypothesis