Our cells are smart – they’re able to get rid of damaged parts and recycle useful parts to keep us healthy.

This process seems to break down in conditions like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, and waste accumulates.

Researchers have uncovered a critical step in the recycling process, which could be used to kickstart the process when it stalls.

Guest/s

• Professor Michael Lazarou, head of the Autophagy and Mitchondrial Quality Control lab at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute

References

• Cellular clean-up: solving the mystery of how cells recycle - WEHI
• Structural pathway for PI3-kinase regulation by VPS15 in autophagy - Science