Autophagy: dual roles in life and death?
EH Baehrecke - Nature reviews Molecular cell biology, 2005 - nature.com
EH Baehrecke
Nature reviews Molecular cell biology, 2005•nature.comAutophagy is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism for the degradation of cellular
components in the cytoplasm, and serves as a cell survival mechanism in starving cells.
Recent studies indicate that autophagy also functions in cell death, but the precise role of
this catabolic process in dying cells is not clear. Here I discuss the possible roles for
autophagy in dying cells and how understanding the relationship between autophagy, cell
survival and cell death is important for health and development.
components in the cytoplasm, and serves as a cell survival mechanism in starving cells.
Recent studies indicate that autophagy also functions in cell death, but the precise role of
this catabolic process in dying cells is not clear. Here I discuss the possible roles for
autophagy in dying cells and how understanding the relationship between autophagy, cell
survival and cell death is important for health and development.
Abstract
Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism for the degradation of cellular components in the cytoplasm, and serves as a cell survival mechanism in starving cells. Recent studies indicate that autophagy also functions in cell death, but the precise role of this catabolic process in dying cells is not clear. Here I discuss the possible roles for autophagy in dying cells and how understanding the relationship between autophagy, cell survival and cell death is important for health and development.
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