Figure 2.

The process of autophagy. Autophagy is initiated in cells by complex regulatory mechanisms under various stress conditions. Through the joint action of multiple protein complexes, the isolation membrane wraps the cargoes, and gradually extends and closes to form autophagosomes. After maturation, autophagosomes fuse with lysosomes to form autolysosomes to degrade the cargoes, realizing the renewal of materials and maintenance of intracellular homeostasis. ER, endoplasmic reticulum. PAS, phagophore assembly site.