Autophagy (journal)

Autophagy is a cellular process that involves the degradation and recycling of unnecessary or dysfunctional cellular components. The term "autophagy" is derived from the Greek words "auto-", meaning "self", and "phagein", meaning "to eat". This process occurs in all eukaryotic cells and plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis.

Overview

Autophagy is a catabolic process that allows cells to degrade and recycle their own components. This process is essential for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and the response to stress. Autophagy is involved in various physiological processes, including cell differentiation, cell growth, and immune response. It also plays a role in various diseases, such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and infections.

Mechanism

The process of autophagy begins with the formation of a double-membrane structure called the phagophore, which engulfs the cellular components to be degraded. This structure then closes to form an autophagosome, which fuses with a lysosome to form an autolysosome. The contents of the autolysosome are then degraded by lysosomal enzymes.

Regulation

Autophagy is regulated by a complex network of proteins and genes. The key regulator of autophagy is the mTOR pathway, which inhibits autophagy under nutrient-rich conditions and activates it under conditions of stress or nutrient deprivation.

Role in disease

Autophagy plays a role in various diseases. In cancer, autophagy can have both tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting effects. In neurodegenerative diseases, impaired autophagy can lead to the accumulation of toxic protein aggregates. In infections, autophagy can help to eliminate intracellular pathogens.

Autophagy (journal)

File:Autophagy journal cover.jpg

Cover of the Autophagy journal

Autophagy is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that focuses on the topic of autophagy. The journal publishes original research articles, reviews, and commentaries on all aspects of autophagy, from molecular biology to clinical studies. The journal is indexed in various databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and the Web of Science.