Autophagy

From WaiWiki
Revision as of 13:18, 26 February 2013 by RRM (talk | contribs) (Created page with 'Autophagy is an adaptive survival response. Autophagy is the decomposition and recycling of redundant or dysfunctional cellular components by the lysosome. This ensures cellular …')
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

Autophagy is an adaptive survival response. Autophagy is the decomposition and recycling of redundant or dysfunctional cellular components by the lysosome. This ensures cellular survival during starvation by maintaining cellular energy levels and other 'nutrients' (for construction). Targeted components are isolated and transported by autophagosomes or vacuoles, which then fuse with the lysosome.

Lysosomes

Like the body, each cell contains specialised organs, called organelles. Lysosomes resemble the digestive system. Lysosomes (pH 4.8) contain weak bases with lipophilic properties and hydrolase enzymes (such as acid sphingomyelinase) that break down waste materials and cellular debris. The membrane keeps the enzymes inside. Autophagic vacuoles (trucks carrying waste) fuse with the lysosomes, which dispense their digestive enzymes into the vacuoles. Lysosomes may process / digest remainders of dying cells or dysfunctional organelles, invading microbes / bacteria and cell surface receptor proteins. Lysosomes may also serve as a patch for when the plasma membrane is damaged, 'sealing' the wound. Lysosomes also produce proteins.