autophagy, autophagosome

Term: autophagy

Origin: Anc   Greek

αυτός/autos(=self)

φάγω/phago(=to eat)

σώμα/soma(=body)

Coined:

Christian de Duve 1917-

In 1963 by Belgian cytologist and biochemist  Christian de Duve after his discovery of lysosomes, in order to create a nomenclature for different cellular pathways and compartments in the endosomal-lysomal pathway.

Definition:

The catabolic process of self-digestion through the lysosomal machinery including degradation of proteins and organelles, cellular remodeling, and survival during nutrient starvation. Autophagy starts with the formation of a vacuole, known as autophagosome.