Autophagy refers to the process of degradation and recycling of cell components. All cells perform autophagy.
Initially, scientists believed that autophagy induced cell death. Today, it is known that it is a process that guarantees the survival of cells.
The term autophagy derives from the Greek and means "to eat oneself", that is, the cell digests parts of itself. Autophagy can occur when the body lacks food and energy reversals. At that moment, the cell starts to digest its parts, as a way to guarantee its survival.
Autophagy also occurs when there is a need to eliminate healthy cells or tumors, promoting the recycling of their components. For example, autophagy eliminates worn or aged organelles, renewing their components.
Autophagy is an important process in cell metabolism, as it maintains the balance between the synthesis and degradation of cell products.
The term autophagy was first used in 1963 by biochemist Christian de Duve, who discovered lysosomes and their relationship to the recycling of cell components. This discovery earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine.
In 2016, scientist Yoshinori Ohsumi received the Nobel Prize for Medicine, he discovered the mechanism of autophagy.
In 1990, Yoshinori started his research on autophagy, he managed to identify 15 essential genes for autophagy. His study of autophagy will contribute to a better understanding of cancer and neurological diseases.
How does autophagy occur?
The autophagy process starts with the production of proteins that bind to form membranes. The material to be ingested is surrounded by membranes, forming the autophagosome.
The autophagosome merges with the lysosome, where the material is digested by the action of enzymes, where digestion occurs.
Learn more about Lysosomes.
In some situations, the autolysis that will lead to cell death. Autolysis consists of the disruption of lysosomes, with the release of digestive enzymes in the cytoplasm and destroying the entire cell contents. We can say that autolysis is the cell's self-digestion.
Read too:
- Cell
- Cell Organelles
- Cytology
- Cell Metabolism
