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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
11:39
Assessing Autophagic Flux by Measuring LC3, p62, and LAMP1 Co-localization Using Multispectral Imaging Flow Cytometry
Published on: July 21, 2017
Does autophagy have a license to kill mammalian cells?
F Scarlatti1, R Granata, A J Meijer
1Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Cell Death and Differentiation
|July 5, 2008
Summary
Macroautophagy, a cellular self-digestion process, plays a dual role in cell survival and death. Its dysregulation can lead to cell demise, highlighting its complex involvement in cellular fate.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Macroautophagy is a conserved cellular process for degrading components within lysosomes.
- In mammals, it protects against damaged organelles, protein aggregates, and therapy toxicity.
- Autophagy provides energy during nutrient starvation and can inhibit cell death pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the multifaceted role of macroautophagy in cellular survival and death.
- To investigate the regulatory mechanisms underlying autophagy's dual function.
- To understand the interplay between autophagy and other cell death pathways like apoptosis.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on macroautophagy.
- Analysis of studies investigating autophagy's role in cytoprotection and cell death.
- Examination of shared regulatory elements between autophagy and apoptosis.
Main Results:
- Macroautophagy is cytoprotective, aiding survival under stress and preventing cell death.
- Dysregulated macroautophagy can promote cell death, either independently or in concert with other pathways.
- Autophagy and apoptosis share common regulatory factors, influencing their interaction.
Conclusions:
- Macroautophagy has a complex, context-dependent role in cell fate.
- Understanding autophagy regulation is key to deciphering its involvement in cell survival and death.
- Further research into the shared pathways of autophagy and apoptosis is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Autophagic Cell Death
Christian de Duve discovered “autophagy,” a process in which cellular components are engulfed by membrane-bound organelles called autophagosomes. The autophagosomes then fuse with lysosomes to digest the enclosed contents. Autophagy is generally activated in cells to prevent cell death. However, cell death is triggered when the damage is beyond repair.
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...
01:27Autophagy
Autophagy is a self-digesting process by which a cell protects itself from threats both within and outside the cell, ranging from abnormal proteins to invading bacteria. In this process, obsolete components of the cell and invading microbes are degraded by hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment of the lysosomal lumen.
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
01:22Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy
Cells respond to damage and stress through highly coordinated processes that decide whether they survive or undergo controlled self-destruction. Two major pathways involved in this regulation are apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death, and autophagy, a survival mechanism that helps cells adapt to adverse conditions.ApoptosisApoptosis removes aged or injured cells to maintain tissue balance. During this process, the cell shrinks, chromatin condenses and fragments, and membrane-bound...
01:36Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome
Eukaryotic cells use different mechanisms to eliminate toxic waste obsolete and worn-out substances. Lysosomes play a pivotal role in this, and hence, these substances are carried to the lysosome from other parts of the cell and extracellular space through different pathways. The most elaborately studied pathways to the lysosome are the endocytic pathways.
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
01:17Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells
Cells undergoing apoptosis form apoptotic bodies that must be removed immediately to prevent inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and necrosis. Phagocytosis is carried out by professional phagocytes such as macrophages or immature dendritic cells. Non-professional phagocytes such as epithelial cells and fibroblasts also take part in this process; however, they are not as effective as professional phagocytes.
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized by phagocytes.
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized by phagocytes.
01:30Overview of Cell Death
Cell death is an essential process where the body gets rid of old or damaged cells. Cell proliferation and death need to be balanced, as an imbalance between the two may lead to cancer or autoimmune diseases.
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the 20th century...
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the 20th century...