Put very simply autophagy is the process by which a cell clears its cytoplasm of damaged organelles, invading microorganisms or protein aggregates. It was originally described as a way for the cell to provide energy, through the breakdown of cytosolic components, during periods of nutrient deprivation. Numerous eloquent studies have highlighted the role of autophagy in a plethora of physiologically and pathologically relevant processes. Autophagy plays a particularly complex and paradoxical role in cellular pathology and is perhaps why autophagy is such a fascinating area of research. For example in tumor growth where early on autophagy can restrict tumorigenesis whereas in the latter stages autophagy is the mechanism utilized by the tumor to gain energy. Another example is in neurodegenerative processes where autophagy can cause the death of neurons by over active autophagy yet can also act as protective mechanism by clearing the build up of cytotoxic aggregates. Alterations in autophagic flux, both up and down, have also been implicated in various muscle myopathies and the response of cells to infection by pathogenic micro organisms.
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