Eating Itself: Autophagy-What it is and what is not?

The word autophagy is formed from two Greek words “auto” meaning self and “phagy” meaning eating. Literally, Autophagy means "self-devouring“.

The term autophagy is like an oxymoron-why cell is so carefully careless? Actually, the term autophagy often misunderstood. It is equally important to know what is not autophagy along with what is autophagy.

What is not Autophagy?

üAutophagy is not a destructive process

ü Autophagy is not a pathological process

ü Autophagy is not a selective process

ü Autophagy is not  an unregulated process

ü Autophagy is not suicidality in cell

  Autophagy is not a term that is well defined.

Now Let's know what is Autophagy?

ü  Normal physiological process

ü Genetically regulated and dynamic process

üUbiquitous catabolic process

ü Generally non-selective process

ü Process that disassembles unnecessary components of the cell

   What is not Autophagy?

  

 What is not Autophagy?