Figure 1.

During macroautophagy different cytoplasmic components are enclosed by the expanding phagophore. Maturation of the phagophore results in the sequestration of the cargo inside double-membrane autophagosomes. Fusion between autophagosomes and lysosomes results in the formation of an autolysosome, where the sequestered cargo is degraded by lysosomal hydrolases. Macromolecules obtained from cargo degradation are transported back into the cytosol to be reutilized.