Macroautophagy is the only cellular degradation process that can remove aggregates and cellular organelles, thus contributing to cell survival, regeneration, and development. The pathological function of the pathway plays a role in several diseases, such as neuronal degeneration processes.

Development of new monitoring systems for the study of autophagy in C. elegans model organism: To detecting the autophagy processes of C. elegans more precisely, we introduce new endogenous fluorescent markers, by monitoring new proteins in addition to the traditionally used LGG-1 / Atg8 system. Transgenic strains produced by the CRISPR / Cas9 technique can reduce the aggregation of the fusion protein, thus its toxic effect, and avoid the silencing of the transgene in the germ cells.

Investigation of the overactivity and hypofunction autophagy in C. elegans: Cellular defects and stress increased autophagic activity has a positive effect on cell function at low levels and in the short term. A long-term increased autophagic activity can become harmful and lead to cell death. Exploring the fine regulation of autophagy allows for the establishment of optimal levels of autophagy in pathological processes.

Exploration of alternative lysosomal degradation processes during starvation in C. elegans. With the study of HLH-30/TFEB regulated genes with unknown function, we aim to find a selective lysosomal degradation mechanism in parallel with the autophagic system that plays a role in the starvation stress response.