NBR1

NBR1, fully named NBR1 autophagy cargo receptor, functions as a key mediator in selective autophagy. It forms intracellular inclusions with ubiquitinated autophagic substrates like mannosidase Ams1 and aminopeptidase Ape4, targeting them for peroxisome degradation. Conserved across eukaryotes with varied domain combinations, it features a signature FW domain of unclear function. Notably, NBR1 binds specifically to tau protein aggregates via phosphorylation, facilitating their autophagic clearance.
Abnormal NBR1 expression or dysfunction is linked to multiple diseases, including ovarian cancer, neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s diseases), and pediatric neurological conditions. Though drug development targeting NBR1 is in its infancy, therapeutic strategies enhancing NBR1-mediated tau clearance have shown potential for Alzheimer’s disease treatment.