Autophagy

Category: mechanism

A cellular self-cleaning process that degrades and recycles damaged organelles and misfolded proteins. Impaired autophagy contributes to neurodegeneration and cancer.

Mechanism Detail

Autophagy involves formation of double-membrane autophagosomes that engulf cytoplasmic cargo and fuse with lysosomes for degradation. Regulated by mTOR (inhibitor) and AMPK (activator). Fasting, exercise, and rapamycin activate autophagy. In neurodegeneration, impaired autophagy leads to accumulation of toxic protein aggregates (TDP-43, α-synuclein, amyloid-beta).

Clinical Status

Autophagy-enhancing strategies (caloric restriction, rapamycin, exercise) are being tested in clinical trials. No approved drugs specifically targeting autophagy for neurodegeneration.

Relevant Diseases

Relevant Therapies

Related Terms