Our research group aims to find more specific (with fewer side effects) targets than the known autophagy activation points. Drosophila melanogaster, one of the most applicable test systems in autophagy research, has been selected as our model organism. Besides changes in autophagy activity, the model allows us to perform more complex tests such as lifespan, learning, and cognitive abilities. In addition to new drug development, we aim to gain a more detailed understanding of the small molecules AUTEN-67 and -99, which we have previously described.

In our previous research, we found that autophagy is essential for differentiation events in early spermatogenesis. We are currently investigating the relationship between regeneration and autophagy in early spermatogenesis. We have found that autophagy is required for spermatogonial cell dedifferentiation, one of the main functions of which may be the elimination of mitochondria. Stem cells are characterized by glycolytic metabolism, whereas the daughter cells that differentiate from them undergo oxidative metabolism. Part of a cell's identity must involve a metabolic change. We are currently investigating the regulation and specificity of autophagy in this system. Our research is expected to provide a better understanding of stem cell formation required for regeneration.

Autophagy is a lysosomal self-digesting process of cells that protects cells from accumulating damaged, toxic components. The cytoprotective role of autophagy is vital for non-dividing cells, such as neurons, which cannot be replaced in the event of their death. The efficiency of autophagy gradually decreases during the lifespan, which can contribute to the development of many diseases of old age (neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, glaucoma, muscle atrophy). In aged cells, the decline of autophagy affects several points of the mechanism. Fewer new autophagosomes are formed, but the degradation of the components designated for degradation is insufficient. Accumulating non-degradable autophagic vesicles provide an isolation medium for the formation of cytotoxic compounds. Our research goal is to find new autophagy activation points with which the downstream step of autophagy, acid degradation, can be enhanced. Among our goals is to strengthen membrane fusion events with the activity of small GTPases and to examine their effects on aging and neurodegeneration models.