title: Autophagy: principles and significance in health and disease.
abstract: Degradation processes are important for optimal functioning of eukaryotic cells. The two major protein degradation pathways in eukaryotes are the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and autophagy. This contribution focuses on autophagy. This process is important for survival of cells during nitrogen starvation conditions but also has a house keeping function in removing exhausted, redundant or unwanted cellular components. We present an overview of the molecular mechanism involved in three major autophagy pathways: chaperone mediated autophagy, microautophagy and macroautophagy. Various recent reports indicate that autophagy plays a crucial role in human health and disease. Examples are presented of lysosomal storage diseases and the role of autophagy in cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, defense against pathogens and cell death.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Cell Biology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, PO Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Todde
authors.forename: Marten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veenhuis
authors.forename: Ida J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: van der Klei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001343:Autophagy / Q000502:physiology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000502:physiology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000502:physiology; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000473:pathology; D016464:Lysosomal Storage Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000502:physiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000503:physiopathology; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018832:Molecular Chaperones