cell-biology
Autophagy
Definition
Autophagy (from Greek, meaning 'self-eating') is a highly conserved intracellular degradation process in which cytoplasmic components, including damaged organelles and misfolded proteins, are sequestered within double-membrane autophagosomes and delivered to lysosomes for degradation and recycling. Autophagy serves as a critical quality control mechanism that maintains cellular homeostasis, and its activation is regulated by nutrient-sensing pathways including mTOR and AMPK. Impaired autophagy is associated with aging, neurodegeneration, and metabolic disease, while enhanced autophagy is believed to mediate some of the benefits of caloric restriction and exercise on healthspan.