Autophagy pathway and Protein Aggregation

The autophagy pathway is a tightly regulated catabolic process whereby cytoplasmic components, including damaged or aggregated proteins, are engulfed by double-membrane vesicles called autophagosomes, which then fuse with lysosomes for degradation and recycling[4][1]. Protein aggregation occurs when misfolded or damaged proteins accumulate into larger, often toxic complexes that the cell cannot easily degrade[1][3]. These aggregates can be cleared by a specialized form of autophagy called aggrephagy[3]. Dysfunction in autophagy, or an overload of protein aggregation, is implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease), as well as having roles in cancer biology and aging[1][5].

Other names

MacroautophagyAggrephagyProtein aggregate clearance

Autophagy induction (via mTOR inhibition, as with rapamycin); Inhibition of autophagosome-lysosome fusion (as with chloroquine, bafilomycin A1); Enhancement of aggregate clearance (as with trehalose)