Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Measurements of Physiological Stress Responses in C. Elegans
Published on: May 21, 2020
Autophagic and apoptotic response to stress signals in mammalian cells
Elisabetta Ferraro1, Francesco Cecconi
1Laboratory of Molecular Neuroembryology, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome 00143, Italy.
Abstract:
Autophagy is a highly conserved catabolic programme for degrading proteins and organelles. This process has been shown to act as a pro-survival or pro-death mechanism in different physiological and pathological conditions. Several stress stimuli can induce autophagy, such as nutrient deprivation or critical steps in development of lower and higher eukaryotes. Apoptosis is an orchestrated form of cell death in which cells are actively involved in their own demise. Again, stress is a positive regulator of apoptosis and, in particular, of its apoptosome-mediated mitochondrial pathway. Besides discussing the individual roles played by the key molecules involved in autophagy in mammals in response to stress signals, we discuss here the interrelations between autophagy and apoptosis under these conditions.
Related Concept Videos
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy
Other Stress Responses in Bacteria
Autophagy
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
Regulation of the Unfolded Protein Response
Autophagic Cell Death
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
