Figure 2.

Exposure of cells to various stimuli leads to induction of autophagy which can be protective or detrimental to the cell. Low levels of autophagy can promote survival by degradation of intracellular contents to maintain ATP production and removal of damaged organelles, and protein aggregates. Excessive and long-term upregulation of autophagy eventually lead to destruction of essential proteins and organelles beyond a certain threshold leading to cell death.