Every second of every day, a quiet act of housekeeping is happening right under our noses — inside our own cells. Old or damaged material is swept up and removed through a process called autophagy. Without it, our cells clog with debris and stop working properly. Over time this breakdown can lead to diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration. 

A new paper published by faculty and student researchers at Trent University in Cell Reports—one of the world’s top cell biology journals—reveals that a protein known as PRP4K plays a crucial, evolutionarily conserved role in regulating this cleanup system. The discovery adds an important piece to the puzzle of how cells stay healthy and what happens when they don’t. 

“Autophagy is a housekeeping system for cells,” explains Dr. Robert Huber, associate professor of Biology at Trent University. “Without it, the cell accumulates material and can’t function properly. Understanding this process helps us get closer to tackling diseases linked to defects in autophagy. In our paper, we uncovered a new role for PRP4K in regulating the formation of proteins that participate in the autophagic process.” 

The study was co-led by researchers at Trent and Dalhousie University and highlights the central role of Trent students in internationally recognized research. Graduate students William Kim and Dr. Megan Aoki contributed to the work, while the paper’s first author and postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Sabateeshan Mathavarajah, began his scientific career as an undergraduate in Professor Huber’s lab at Trent before completing his Ph.D. at Dalhousie. 

By uncovering a new role for PRP4K, the research opens pathways for future studies into how autophagy might be harnessed or restored, advancing understanding of human health while putting Trent students at the forefront of biomedical discovery. 

Learn more about the Biology and Environmental & Life Sciences programs at Trent and research in the Molecules, Cells and Systems Research Centre led by Dr. Robert Huber.