Aggresome pathway

The aggresome pathway encompasses cellular mechanisms activated when conventional protein degradation is insufficient, leading to the sequestration of misfolded or aggregated proteins in specialized perinuclear inclusions called aggresomes. These structures are actively transported via microtubules and motor proteins, often facilitated by components such as HDAC6, and are subsequently degraded by autophagy. Aggresome formation protects cells from proteotoxicity, but dysregulation or persistent formation is associated with neurodegeneration and cancer. Drugs targeting aggresome pathway components, notably HDAC6, are under investigation for disease treatment, and cellular markers like vimentin and ubiquitinated aggregates are used to monitor pathway engagement[1][3][4][5][7][10].

Other names

Aggresome-autophagy pathwayAggresome clearance pathway

Inhibition of HDAC6 blocks retrograde transport of protein aggregates, preventing aggresome formation and promoting apoptosis in cancer cells Proteasome inhibitors induce aggresome formation as a compensatory clearance method Chaperone modulators affect aggregate recognition and trafficking