Epigenetic Regulation of Autophagy Genes in Stem Cells in Steady State and Stress Conditions

Abstract

Autophagy is a process by which the components of a cell are recycled via a lysosomal degradation pathway to ensure the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and viability. The autophagic pathway is largely referred to as a cytosolic pathway and is found to be actively upregulated during cellular differentiation. But not much is known about the nuclear components of this pathway. Recent reports from studies suggest that epigenetic modifications, by regulating signalling pathways act as a major player in cellular fate decisions during development and differentiation. However, the contribution of epigenetic mechanisms in autophagy regulation is relatively unclear. Our study was aimed at understanding how different epigenetic modifications regulate the expression of autophagy genes and in turn the process of autophagy itself during different cell states. It was found that the epigenetic inhibition of chromatin domains led to changes in the expression of autophagy genes and the process of autophagy itself.