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Cleaning House: Selective Autophagy of Organelles
The selective clearance of organelles by autophagy is critical for the regulation of cellular homeostasis in organisms from yeast to humans. Removal of damaged organelles clears the cell of potentially toxic byproducts and enables reuse of organelle components for bioenergetics. Thus, defects in organelle clearance may be detrimental to the health of the cells, contributing to cancer, neurodegeneration, and inflammatory diseases. Organelle-specific autophagy can clear mitochondria, peroxisomes, lysosomes, ER, chloroplasts, and the nucleus. Here, we review our understanding of the mechanisms that regulate the clearance of organelles by autophagy and highlight gaps in our knowledge of these processes.
Autophagy in Cell Life and Cell Death
Macroautophagy (hereafter referred to as autophagy) is a process used by the cell to deliver cytoplasmic components to the lysosome for degradation. Autophagy is most often associated with cell survival, as it provides cells with molecular building blocks during periods of nutrient deprivation and also aids in the elimination of damaged organelles and protein aggregates. However, autophagy has also been implicated in cell death. Here, we review what is known about autophagy, its regulation, its role both in cell life and cell death, and what is known about autophagic cell death in vivo.