Dysregulation of nuclear function has been implicated in many human diseases. Thus, identifying and characterizing quality control mechanisms that regulate nuclear structure and function is essential. Herein, we discuss autophagy pathways responsible for the degradation of diverse nuclear cargoes across eukaryotic species and highlight the need for a better understanding of nuclear cargo composition and packaging mechanisms, which remain largely uncharacterized.

Due to their essential functions, dysregulation of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) is strongly associated with numerous human diseases, including neurodegeneration and cancer. On a cellular level, longevity of scaffold nucleoporins in postmitotic cells of both C. elegans and mammals renders them vulnerable to age-related damage, which is associated with an increase in pore leakiness and accumulation of intranuclear aggregates in rat brain cells. Thus, understanding the mechanisms which underpin the homeostasis of this complex, as well as other nuclear proteins, is essential. In this review, autophagy-mediated degradation pathways governing nuclear components in yeast will be discussed, with a particular focus on NPCs. Furthermore, the various nuclear degradation mechanisms identified thus far in diverse eukaryotes will also be highlighted.