What the study found
The study found that the translation repressor Sbp1 acts as a negative regulator of autophagy during hydroxyurea-induced replication stress. It also found that Sbp1’s behavior in cytoplasmic granules and its effect on autophagy depend on an RGG motif.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that their findings suggest a regulatory link between granule-mediated mRNA sequestration, translation control of autophagy factors, and the cellular response to genotoxic stress. They also suggest that altered autophagy is linked to genome maintenance through changes in DNA repair choice.
What the researchers tested
The researchers examined how Sbp1 behaves in cells treated with hydroxyurea, a compound that causes replication stress. They tested Sbp1 localization, the translation of autophagy genes, levels of autophagy, and the effect of Sbp1 overexpression or loss on DNA repair pathway choice.
What worked and what didn't
When cells lost Sbp1, the translation of ATG1, ATG2, and ATG9 increased, and both selective macroautophagy/autophagy and bulk autophagy increased. When Sbp1 was overexpressed, both forms of autophagy were suppressed, and DNA repair shifted toward non-homologous end joining (NHEJ).
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe the full experimental details, sample size, or any limitations. The findings are limited to hydroxyurea-induced replication stress and the specific factors named in the abstract.
Key points
- Sbp1 localizes to reversible, mRNA-containing cytoplasmic granules after hydroxyurea treatment.
- Loss of Sbp1 increases translation of the autophagy genes ATG1, ATG2, and ATG9.
- Sbp1 deletion is associated with increased selective macroautophagy/autophagy and increased bulk autophagy.
- Sbp1 overexpression suppresses both selective and bulk autophagy.
- Sbp1 overexpression shifts DNA repair toward non-homologous end joining.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Sbp1 limits autophagy during hydroxyurea stress
- Authors:
- Gayatri Mohanan, Kumkum Nag, H G Senger, Parvathy J, Purusharth I Rajyaguru
- Institutions:
- Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
- Publication date:
- 2026-06-29
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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