Research report 2015 - Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry

Autophagy: the multifunctional recycling system of the cell

Authors
Kaufmann, Anna; Wollert, Thomas
Departments
Max Planck Forschungsgruppe Molekulare Membran- und Organell-Biologie
Summary
Autophagy is a recycling system of the cell that prevents all kinds of cellular waste from accumulating. Autophagy sequesters such material in specialized containers, which are like other organelles of the cell surrounded by a flexible membrane. These containers transport their contents to cellular recycling stations for degradation. The researchers recently identified a specialized set of proteins that stabilize autophagic containers. Similar to recycling bins, these proteins form a stiff shell on top of the membrane to provide physical support.

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