Submit to IJMS Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

The Endosomal-Lysosomal System: A Dynamic Network of Molecular and Cellular Pathways

Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2022) | Viewed by 11946

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Anna Onnis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Life Science, University of Siena, 4 53100 Siena, Italy
Interests: vesicular trafficking; immune synapse; T- and B- lymphocytes

Dr. Francesca Finetti

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor

Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
Interests: vesicular trafficking; intraflagellar transport; autophagy; lysosomes; immunological synapse; T and B lymphocytes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The endosomal-lysosomal system is a highly dynamic network of intracellular membranous compartments where different trafficking pathways converge to regulate the delivery and localization of cargo molecules as well as their processing. The active transport through these compartments is based on endocytosis and exocytosis and exploits the tight coordination of several molecular mechanisms to control both endosome processing and cargo sorting. The endosomal-lysosomal system is essential for cell physiology and is involved in maintaining cellular homeostasis and supporting organism development and growth. Accordingly, defective endosomal trafficking is considered to be a pathogenic factor in a number of diseases, including metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders, immune diseases and cancer.

This Special Issue aims to cover research dissecting the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the formation and maturation of endosomes/lysosomes, vesicle trafficking, protein sorting and targeted degradation of specific cargoes. We will explore the role of endosomal/lysosomal system in health and disease and address how this system may be targeted for therapeutic purposes.

Dr. Anna Onnis
Dr. Francesca Finetti
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

endosomes
lysosomes
vesicular trafficking
endocytosis
exocytosis
protein sorting
cargo degradation

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review

12 pages, 4192 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Drosophila Rab39 Attenuates Lysosomal Degradation

by Zsolt Lakatos, Péter Benkő, Gábor Juhász and Péter Lőrincz

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(19), 10635; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms221910635 - 30 Sep 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2178

Abstract

Lysosomal degradation, the common destination of autophagy and endocytosis, is one of the most important elements of eukaryotic metabolism. The small GTPases Rab39A and B are potential new effectors of this pathway, as their malfunction is implicated in severe human diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration. In this study, the lysosomal regulatory role of the single Drosophila Rab39 ortholog was characterized, providing valuable insight into the potential cell biological mechanisms mediated by these proteins. Using a de novo CRISPR-generated rab39 mutant, we found no failure in the early steps of endocytosis and autophagy. On the contrary, we found that Rab39 mutant nephrocytes internalize and degrade endocytic cargo at a higher rate compared to control cells. In addition, Rab39 mutant fat body cells contain small yet functional autolysosomes without lysosomal fusion defect. Our data identify Drosophila Rab39 as a negative regulator of lysosomal clearance during both endocytosis and autophagy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Endosomal-Lysosomal System: A Dynamic Network of Molecular and Cellular Pathways)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

13 pages, 1290 KiB

Open AccessReview

IFT20: An Eclectic Regulator of Cellular Processes beyond Intraflagellar Transport

by Francesca Finetti, Anna Onnis and Cosima T. Baldari

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(20), 12147; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms232012147 - 12 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2146

Abstract

Initially discovered as the smallest component of the intraflagellar transport (IFT) system, the IFT20 protein has been found to be implicated in several unconventional mechanisms beyond its essential role in the assembly and maintenance of the primary cilium. IFT20 is now considered a key player not only in ciliogenesis but also in vesicular trafficking of membrane receptors and signaling proteins. Moreover, its ability to associate with a wide array of interacting partners in a cell-type specific manner has expanded the function of IFT20 to the regulation of intracellular degradative and secretory pathways. In this review, we will present an overview of the multifaceted role of IFT20 in both ciliated and non-ciliated cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Endosomal-Lysosomal System: A Dynamic Network of Molecular and Cellular Pathways)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 3742 KiB

Open AccessReview

Endocytosis at the Crossroad of Polarity and Signaling Regulation: Learning from Drosophila melanogaster and Beyond

by Fani Papagiannouli

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(9), 4684; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23094684 - 23 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4225

Abstract

Cellular trafficking through the endosomal–lysosomal system is essential for the transport of cargo proteins, receptors and lipids from the plasma membrane inside the cells and across membranous organelles. By acting as sorting stations, vesicle compartments direct the fate of their content for degradation, recycling to the membrane or transport to the trans-Golgi network. To effectively communicate with their neighbors, cells need to regulate their compartmentation and guide their signaling machineries to cortical membranes underlying these contact sites. Endosomal trafficking is indispensable for the polarized distribution of fate determinants, adaptors and junctional proteins. Conversely, endocytic machineries cooperate with polarity and scaffolding components to internalize receptors and target them to discrete membrane domains. Depending on the cell and tissue context, receptor endocytosis can terminate signaling responses but can also activate them within endosomes that act as signaling platforms. Therefore, cell homeostasis and responses to environmental cues rely on the dynamic cooperation of endosomal–lysosomal machineries with polarity and signaling cues. This review aims to address advances and emerging concepts on the cooperative regulation of endocytosis, polarity and signaling, primarily in Drosophila melanogaster and discuss some of the open questions across the different cell and tissue types that have not yet been fully explored. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Endosomal-Lysosomal System: A Dynamic Network of Molecular and Cellular Pathways)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1585 KiB

Open AccessReview

Deliver on Time or Pay the Fine: Scheduling in Membrane Trafficking

by Giampaolo Placidi and Carlo C. Campa

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(21), 11773; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms222111773 - 29 Oct 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2399

Abstract

Membrane trafficking is all about time. Automation in such a biological process is crucial to ensure management and delivery of cellular cargoes with spatiotemporal precision. Shared molecular regulators and differential engagement of trafficking components improve robustness of molecular sorting. Sequential recruitment of low affinity protein complexes ensures directionality of the process and, concomitantly, serves as a kinetic proofreading mechanism to discriminate cargoes from the whole endocytosed material. This strategy helps cells to minimize losses and operating errors in membrane trafficking, thereby matching the appealed deadline. Here, we summarize the molecular pathways of molecular sorting, focusing on their timing and efficacy. We also highlight experimental procedures and genetic approaches to robustly probe these pathways, in order to guide mechanistic studies at the interface between biochemistry and quantitative biology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Endosomal-Lysosomal System: A Dynamic Network of Molecular and Cellular Pathways)

► Show Figures