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Autophagy

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Immobilization of Caenorhabditis elegans to Analyze Intracellular Transport in Neurons

Immobilization of Caenorhabditis elegans to Analyze Intracellular Transport in Neurons

Published on: October 18, 2017

Autophagy in C. elegans.

Alicia Meléndez¹, Beth Levine

¹Department of Biology, Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11367 USA. alicia.melendez@qc.cuny.edu

Wormbook : the Online Review of C. Elegans Biology

|August 26, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Autophagy, a cellular degradation process, is vital in C. elegans. This review explores its roles in stress adaptation, aging, development, and disease, highlighting conserved genetic pathways.

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Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026

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Published on: October 18, 2017

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In Vitro and In Vivo Detection of Mitophagy in Human Cells, C. Elegans, and Mice

In Vitro and In Vivo Detection of Mitophagy in Human Cells, C. Elegans, and Mice

Published on: November 22, 2017

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Developmental Biology
Genetics

Background:

Autophagy is a fundamental cellular process for degrading cytoplasmic components via the autophagosomal-lysosomal pathway.
Genetic screens in yeast have identified key autophagy genes, many conserved in higher eukaryotes like C. elegans.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the multifaceted roles of autophagy in the model organism C. elegans.
To highlight conserved genetic mechanisms underlying autophagy.

Main Methods:

Review of genetic screens and gene knockdown/knockout studies in C. elegans.
Analysis of conserved autophagy-related genes across different species.

Main Results:

Autophagy in C. elegans is crucial for adaptation to stress, aging, and normal development.
It plays roles in cell death, growth control, neural function, and clearing toxic protein aggregates.

Conclusions:

C. elegans serves as a powerful model for understanding autophagy's diverse functions in multicellular organisms.
Conserved genetic pathways underscore the fundamental importance of autophagy in eukaryotic biology.