Lysosomes are considered to be important for metabolic adaptations during starvation, but these data come almost exclusively from in vitro studies. A study in Scientific Reports analyzes the proteomic changes in several organs in mice starved for 6 or 24 hours. Starved mice lose weight and initiate ketone body synthesis, confirming starvation-induced catabolism. Lysosomal protein composition shifts over time, reflecting adaptations in the energy-related mTORC1 signaling and autophagic protein degradation, with distinct responses based on the duration of starvation. When analyzing the phosphorylation status of mTORC1 target proteins in the whole organs during fasting events, mTORC1 deactivates and later reactivates in the liver, gradually deactivates in muscle, and remains stable in the brain. Changes in lysosomal proteins mainly involve mTORC1 signaling, while non-lysosomal proteins suggest a pattern in the degradation process. These results show new insights into the mechanisms behind the metabolic adaptations during nutrient deprivation.
Original reference: Edgar, K. et al. Sci. Rep. 14, 28296 (2024)
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