A COPII subunit acts with an autophagy receptor to target endoplasmic reticulum for degradation

ER-phagy keeps cells healthy In eukaryotic cells, about one-third of all proteins are targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which serves as a hub for secretory protein traffic and quality control. Cui et al. studied a protein known as Lst1 in yeast and SEC24C in mammalian cells that is involved in loading secretory cargo into vesicles that are delivered to the Golgi complex. In response to stress caused by starvation or misfolded aggregate-prone secretory proteins, Lst1 acted to promote an additional function—ER-phagy. Together with autophagy receptors on the ER, Lst1 targeted ER domains for degradation to avert protein aggregation, thus preserving cellular health. Science , this issue p. 53