Proteasome-dependent degradation and nucleus–vacuole junctions sustain proteostasis during acute glucose starvation
, we show that misfolded proteins continue to be efficiently degraded throughout both early and late phases of acute glucose depletion. This degradation requires the proteasome and depends on its functional 19S regulatory particle, indicating that ATP-dependent proteasomal activity persists during metabolic stress. We further find that nucleus-vacuole junctions (NVJs) promote efficient degradation during prolonged glucose starvation, revealing a role for organelle contact sites in supporting proteostasis under energy limitation. Together, these findings indicate that cells preserve proteasome-mediated proteostasis during acute glucose starvation, while NVJ membrane contact sites help sustain degradation capacity when metabolic resources are scarce.
Authors
- Matko Bazdan
- Dina Franić (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3514-4472)
- Antonio Bedalov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7373-8255)
- Mirta Boban (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9493-3917)
- Mihaela Pravica (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3021-3625)
- Dominik Guzalić
Institutions
- University of Zagreb (HR)
- Fred Hutch Cancer Center (US)
- Seattle University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
- Published
- 2026-04-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.04.22.720209
- Primary Topic
- Ubiquitin and proteasome pathways
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Hrvatska Zaklada za Znanost
- Common Fund