Abstract
Microtubules (MTs) play essential roles in many steps of autophagy, an important degradation pathway in the maintenance of cellular homoeostasis. In many cells, MT networks are comprised of centrosomal MTs and noncentrosomal MTs. However, it is unknown whether noncentrosomal MTs and its binding proteins are involved in autophagy. Here, we show in HeLa cells that calmodulin-regulated spectrin-associated protein 2 (CAMSAP2), a noncentrosomal MT minus-end stabilizing protein, regulates retrograde transport of autophagosomes through MT dynamics. CAMSAP2 cooperates with EB1 to regulate end-binding protein 1 (EB1) behaviour at MT plus ends, MT growth directions and autophagosome transport. An association between CAMSAP2 and EB1 in the cytosol may modulate EB1 binding to MT plus ends. Collectively, our data indicate that noncentrosomal MTs regulate autophagy through a cross-talk between CAMSAP2 and EB1.