Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy
Published on: January 31, 2025
Autophagy and vacuole homeostasis: a case for self-degradation?
Dalibor Mijaljica1, Mark Prescott, Daniel J Klionsky
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and the ARC Centre of Excellence in Structural and Functional Microbial Genomics, Monash University, Clayton Campus, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract:
The vacuole of yeast plays an important role in pH- and ion-homeostasis. Another important function of the vacuole, especially during nutrient deprivation, is the degradation of proteins, other macromolecules and organelles. To deliver these components into the vacuolar lumen, specific and sophisticated transport pathways such as autophagy have evolved. This review will first look at autophagy and its relationship to vacuole homeostasis, then move to the topic of vacuole self-degradation and possible reasons for its existence, and close by pointing very briefly to some areas for further research in these topics.
Related Concept Videos
Autophagy
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
Autophagic Cell Death
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy
Regulated Protein Degradation
Protein degradation plays two important roles in the cells. It helps to protect cells from misfolded or damaged proteins before they lead to a...
Regulated Protein Degradation
Protein degradation plays two important roles in the cells. It helps to protect cells from misfolded or damaged proteins before they lead to a...

