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First published online June 20, 2008
doi: 10.1242/10.1242/dev.016105

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The cell biology of autophagy in metazoans: a developing story

¹ Department of Biology, Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11367, USA.
² Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, 6-160 Jackson Hall, 321 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.

e-mails: alicia.melendez{at}qc.cuny.edu; neufe003{at}umn.edu

SUMMARY

The cell biological phenomenon of autophagy (or `self-eating') has attracted increasing attention in recent years. In this review, we first address the cell biological functions of autophagy, and then discuss recent insights into the role of autophagy in animal development, particularly in C. elegans, Drosophila and mouse. Work in these and other model systems has also provided evidence for the involvement of autophagy in disease processes, such as neurodegeneration, tumorigenesis, pathogenic infection and aging. Insights gained from investigating the functions of autophagy in normal development should increase our understanding of its roles in human disease and its potential as a target for therapeutic intervention.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Melendez and T. P. Neufeld The cell biology of autophagy in metazoans: a developing story J. Cell Sci., July 15, 2008; 121(14): e1406 - e1406. [Full Text]