Targeting autophagy kinases: from mechanisms to therapy with novel small molecules

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved process in eukaryotic cells that degrades and recycles intracellular macromolecules and damaged organelles. It is closely related to a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Research on autophagy has become a current hotspot, with protein kinases regarded as crucial components that play essential roles throughout this process. During autophagy, diverse autophagy-related protein kinases continuously regulate different stages. Protein kinases are critical in signal transduction and the regulation of most cellular processes. Therefore, autophagy-associated protein kinases represent potential therapeutic targets for human diseases, and corresponding small-molecule compounds may provide promising therapeutic strategies. This review summarizes the current progress in autophagy research, with a focus on small-molecule drugs that influence autophagy-related kinases and their association with diseases.