​

​

The properties, dimensions, and characteristics of autophagic cargo are highly diverse, ranging from organelles enclosed in membranes to protein assemblies lacking membranes. These cargoes vary in size, extending to the scale of microns, and can adopt a fixed or mobile arrangement. The impact of these cargo features on the process of autophagosome biogenesis remains unclear. Therefore, the main focus of this project is on elucidating how the physical properties of selective cargo affect their engulfment and subsequent degradation. To decipher the molecular factors governing the selective degradation of cargo, we will use a combination of cell biology, biochemistry, and structural methods, including ultrastructural characterization by correlative cryo-electron tomography.