The LC3-conjugation machinery specifies cargo loading and secretion of extracellular vesicles

Classical macroautophagy/autophagy functions to maintain cell health during stressful conditions by targeting cytosolic components for degradation and recycling through the lysosomal pathway. In contrast, nondegradative secretory autophagy functions as an alternative autophagy mechanism to mediate extracellular secretion. A recent study published in Nature Cell Biology from the laboratory of Jayanta Debnath has identified components of the LC3-conjugation machinery as mediators in the selection of cargo for nonclassical secretion. Termed LC3-dependent extracellular vesicle loading and secretion (LDELS), this mechanism provides an additional link between secretory autophagy and the release of extracellular vesicles.