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Autophagic Cell Death

Autophagic 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...

Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy

Cellular 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...

Autophagy

Autophagy

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,...

Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome

Delivery 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...

Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

Phagocytosis 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.

Overview of Cell Death

Overview 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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

Phagocytosis Assay for Apoptotic Cells in Drosophila Embryos

Phagocytosis Assay for Apoptotic Cells in Drosophila Embryos

Published on: August 3, 2017

Autophagy genes function in apoptotic cell corpse clearance during C. elegans embryonic development.

Shuyi Huang¹, Kailiang Jia, Ying Wang

¹Center for Autophagy Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.

|October 31, 2012

Summary

Autophagy genes are essential for efficient removal of dead cells during Caenorhabditis elegans embryonic development. Loss of these genes leads to increased cell corpses and delayed clearance, indicating a crucial role for autophagy in tissue homeostasis.

Keywords:

C. elegans apoptotic corpse clearance autophagy cell death embryogenesis

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Live Imaging of Apoptotic Cell Clearance during Drosophila Embryogenesis

Live Imaging of Apoptotic Cell Clearance during Drosophila Embryogenesis

Published on: August 18, 2013

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Last Updated: May 17, 2026

Phagocytosis Assay for Apoptotic Cells in Drosophila Embryos

Phagocytosis Assay for Apoptotic Cells in Drosophila Embryos

Published on: August 3, 2017

Live Imaging of Apoptotic Cell Clearance during Drosophila Embryogenesis

Live Imaging of Apoptotic Cell Clearance during Drosophila Embryogenesis

Published on: August 18, 2013

Area of Science:

Cell biology
Developmental biology
Genetics

Background:

Efficient clearance of apoptotic cells is vital for metazoan development and tissue maintenance.
Autophagy proteins are implicated in apoptotic cell removal, but their essentiality in embryonic development is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of autophagy genes in embryonic cell corpse clearance in Caenorhabditis elegans.
To determine if autophagy functions in parallel to known engulfment pathways.

Main Methods:

Utilized loss-of-function mutations in autophagy genes in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos.
Analyzed phosphatidylserine exposure on dying cells.
Performed rescue experiments by expressing BEC-1 in engulfing cells.
Examined genetic interactions with known engulfment genes (ced-1, ced-6, ced-12).

Main Results:

Mutations in autophagy genes led to increased numbers of cell corpses and delayed clearance.
bec-1 null mutants showed normal phosphatidylserine exposure on dying cells.
BEC-1 expression in engulfing cells rescued corpse clearance defects.
bec-1 mutations enhanced defects in engulfment mutants, suggesting parallel function.

Conclusions:

Autophagy proteins play a significant role in embryonic cell corpse clearance in C. elegans.
Autophagy likely functions independently of, but in parallel to, established engulfment pathways for efficient corpse removal.