Autophagy works to make new cellular building blocks in five stages

The 5 stages of autophagy

The body is in a constant state of renewal, and the process of autophagy reflects this. Autophagy involves the breakdown and recycling of old or damaged cells and is important for healthy aging.^[1] It is also an essential cellular process and produces new building blocks and energy for cellular renovation and homeostasis.

A range of substrates are broken down through this process, from proteins to bacteria. ^[2]It may be induced in response to nutrient deprivation, introduction of pathogens or other stressors, and in many other situations. ^[3]Autophagy is also activated on a day-to-day basis, between meals, in organs such as the liver to maintain its metabolic functions and supply amino acids and energy.^[4]

The mechanism of autophagy can be described in a series of five stages.

Autophagy process

Understanding the 5 stages of autophagy helps shed light on how our cells respond to stress.

1. Initiation

The first stage of autophagy is initiation. In this stage, a range of autophagy-stimulating signals are sent to promote the formation of autophagosomes. ^[5]Autophagosomes are vesicles that are newly formed during autophagy to engulf materials.^[6] Phagophore nucleation is the next stage of the process.

2. Phagophore nucleation

Stage two of autophagy is phagophore nucleation. At this stage, the initial structure that will be used to sequester materials is called the phagophore. After initiation, the membrane begins to expand.^[7]

3. Elongation and autophagosome formation

The third stage of the process is elongation and autophagosome formation. During this stage, the phagophore expands and the membrane bends to generate a spherical autophagosome. It is not clear what causes this to happen. The membrane wraps around the cargo inside, adjusting to fit the material.^[8]

4. Autophagosome-lysosome fusion

Autophagosome-lysosome fusion is the fourth stage of this process. At this point, the phagophore fully surrounds the cargo contained in a structure called the lysosome - a type of organelle that contains degradative enzymes. ^[9]

5. Cargo degradation

The final stage of autophagy is cargo degradation. In this stage, enzymes degrade the autophagic cargo. This process generates nutrients that are released into the cell and reused.

Final words

Autophagy plays a crucial role in preserving health by enabling cells to self-digest and renew. Autophagic dysfunction has been linked to numerous conditions, such as cancer, neurodegeneration, microbial infection, and the aging process^[10]. Understanding the five stages of autophagy is a key part of understanding how good health may be maintained with age. The potential to therapeutically modulate autophagy offers exciting prospects for combating various diseases.