FIGURE 6.

Scenarios of the regulation of autophagy by TDP-43. It is suggested that TDP-43 is required for the maintenance of autophagy. This function of TDP-43 is mediated through its binding to and stabilization of the Atg7 mRNA. In the diseased cells with TDP-43 proteinopathies, misregulation leads to loss-of-function of TDP-43 and the consequent destabilization of the Atg7 mRNA. The formation of the autophagosomes is then blocked due to the loss of the Atg7 mRNA and protein. The impairment of the autophagy leads to mismetabolism of cellular proteins, including TDP-43.