Abstract
Liquido-phagy: Liquid condensates, their interaction with membranes and how they influence the formation of autophagosomes by Dr Roland Knorr
Liquid condensation in the cytosol is increasingly recognized as a major principle of cellular organization. In contrast to conventional organelles, condensates are compartments which are not enclosed by lipid membranes. They have liquid-like properties and tend to form spherical shapes to minimize their interfacial area with the cytosol. Examples include cargoes of autophagy such as stress granules or P-bodies which suggests that liquid condensates can play an important role during autophagy. However, contact sites between biomembranes and liquid condensates are poorly understood. Here, I will address this important question. I will explain our experimental and theoretical work analyzing membrane shaping and the interaction between liquid compartments in general and will apply this knowledge in the context of autophagy.