Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2026

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy
Published on: January 31, 2025
Allophagy: a macroautophagic process degrading spermatozoid-inherited organelles
Sara Al Rawi1, Sophie Louvet-Vallée, Abderazak Djeddi
1UPMC Université Paris 06, UMR7622-Biologie du Développement, Paris, France.
Abstract:
In most animals, during oocyte fertilization the spermatozoon provides DNA and centrioles together with some cytoplasm and organelles, but paternal mitochondria are generally eliminated in the embryo. Using the model animal C. elegans we have shown that paternal organelle degradation is dependent on the formation of autophagosomes a few minutes after fertilization. This macroautophagic process is preceded by an active ubiquitination of some spermatozoon-inherited organelles. Analysis of fertilized mouse embryos suggests that this autophagy event is evolutionarily conserved.
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...
Phagocytosis
Phagocytosis
The objective of phagocytosis is often destruction. Cells use phagocytosis to eliminate unwelcome visitors, like pathogens (e.g., viruses and bacteria). Many immune system cells, including...
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized by phagocytes.

