Figure 5. Interplay between ER stress, mitophagy, and proteostasis pathways. ER stress triggers the recruitment of mitophagy-related proteins, leading to the activation of degradation pathways. The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) primarily targets misfolded proteins for degradation via the proteasome, whereas autophagy facilitates the clearance of larger cellular components, including dysfunctional mitochondria, through lysosomal degradation. The balance between these two systems is crucial for cellular survival, as an imbalance may contribute to pathological conditions.