Methods to study interactions between ciliogenesis and autophagy

Abstract

Autophagy is a catabolic pathway for the degradation and recycling of intracellular components, contributing to maintain cell homeostasis. Changes in autophagy activity can be monitored by a variety of biochemical and functional assays that should be used in combination. Recently, it has been described that signaling from the primary cilium modulates autophagy. This novel and reciprocal interaction will impact diverse aspects of the cell biology in healthy and pathophysiological conditions. Here, we describe methods to monitor autophagy activity in cilia mutants, as well as the use of autophagy mutants to monitor ciliogenesis.