Cell Function
autophagy
au·toph·a·gy [ aw-tuh-fey-jee ]
Subclass of:
Cell physiology
Definitions related to autophagy:
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A normal process in which a cell destroys proteins and other substances in its cytoplasm (the fluid inside the cell membrane but outside the nucleus), which may lead to cell death. Autophagy may prevent normal cells from developing into cancer cells, but it may also protect cancer cells by destroying anticancer drugs or substances taken up by them.NCI Dictionary of Cancer TermsU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Autophagy is a biological process that involves the lysosomal degradation of intracellular components using it a cell's own machinery. This process can play a role in cellular defense, embryonic development, and cell growth.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Segregation of part of the cell's own cytoplasmic material within a membrane and its digestion after fusion of the segregated vacuole with a lysosome.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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The cellular catabolic process in which cells digest parts of their own cytoplasm; allows for both recycling of macromolecular constituents under conditions of cellular stress and remodeling the intracellular structure for cell differentiation.Gene Ontology DictionaryGene Ontology Consortium, 2021
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The segregation and degradation of various cytoplasmic constituents via engulfment by MULTIVESICULAR BODIES; VACUOLES; or AUTOPHAGOSOMES and their digestion by LYSOSOMES. It plays an important role in BIOLOGICAL METAMORPHOSIS and in the removal of bone by OSTEOCLASTS. Defective autophagy is associated with various diseases, including NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES and cancer.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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