AUTOPHAGY ~ IS A NATURAL SELF PRESERVATION MECHANISM

It removes damaged or dysfunctional parts of a cell and recycles other parts towards cellular repair.

It begins when cells are stressed or deprived of nutrients.

Autophagy is important for balancing sources of energy at critical times in development and in response to nutrient stress.

It also plays a housekeeping role in removing misfolded or aggregated proteins, clearing damaged organelles, and eliminating intracellular pathogens.

Researchers are studying autophagy's role in potentially preventing and fighting disease.