The knowledge gained by the mechanism used by bacterium Salmonella enterica in causing gastroenteritis in humans raises hope in the fight against cancer and other aging-associated diseases. Dysregulated autophagy an emerging hallmark of malignancy: Cancer cells display several features of aberrant cellular metabolism. Two consequences of this dysregulated metabolism are: Rapid depletion of intracellular nutrients A buildup of aggregated proteins and damaged organelles. A role of autophagy in cancer progression: Autophagy provides a mechanism for recycling proteins, lipids, and organelles.
In cancer cells, oncogenes and conditions of severe stress drive profound upregulation of autophagy. In this setting, autophagy ameliorates the ill effects of dysregulated cellular metabolism, allowing a steady supply of nutrients and removal of damaged organelles. Researchers propose that the pathway…
