Logout
If you want to log out click in LogOut
The autophagy pathway is a highly regulated cellular degradation and recycling system that maintains cellular homeostasis under stress conditions such as nutrient deprivation, oxidative stress, hypoxia, and protein aggregation.
Autophagy enables cells to degrade damaged organelles, misfolded proteins, and cytoplasmic components through lysosomal degradation, thereby promoting survival, metabolic adaptation, and longevity.
Dysregulation of autophagy is strongly associated with cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, metabolic diseases, infectious diseases, and aging-related pathologies.
Autophagy pathway activity can be efficiently assessed by measuring gene expression of ATG regulators, lysosomal markers, and pathway-specific biomarker signatures.
Autophagy pathway biomarker list
View the genes included in our autophagy-related qPCR arrays.
Autophagy begins with the formation of a phagophore, a membrane structure that elongates and closes to form a double-membraned autophagosome.
Key regulators include:
The autophagosome subsequently fuses with lysosomes, where lysosomal hydrolases degrade the cargo.
Autophagy initiation is tightly controlled by nutrient and energy sensors:
This regulatory balance ensures that autophagy is activated only under appropriate stress conditions.
Autophagy can be selective through adaptor proteins such as:
These proteins link ubiquitinated cargo to LC3-positive membranes for targeted degradation.
Involves formation of autophagosomes that engulf cytoplasmic components before lysosomal fusion.
Direct engulfment of cytoplasmic material by lysosomal membrane invagination.
Selective degradation of specific proteins via chaperone recognition.
Cancer
Autophagy plays a dual role:
Neurodegenerative diseases
Impaired autophagy leads to accumulation of protein aggregates in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS.
Metabolic disorders
Autophagy regulates lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity.
Cardiovascular and ischemic diseases
Modulates cell survival during ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Infectious diseases
Autophagy contributes to pathogen clearance and immune regulation
Because autophagy determines cell fate and metabolic adaptation, it is a major therapeutic target:
Accurate autophagy biomarker profiling is essential for understanding disease progression and therapeutic response.
At AnyGenes®, we provide high-performance qPCR arrays and customizable SignArrays® dedicated to autophagy pathway analysis.
Our solutions enable researchers to:
What can be analyzed?
Left: The 23 pairs of chromosomes of cells in which autophagy is functioning look normal and healthy with no structural or numerical aberrations (each color represents a unique chromosome pair).
Scientific data is only as powerful as the analysis behind it.
AnyGenes® provides a dedicated data analysis tool specifically developed for SignArrays® pathway panels.
What does it allow you to do?
Developed on Excel (compatible with 2007+), the software is user-friendly and requires no advanced bioinformatics skills.
Customize your own signaling pathways (SignArrays®) with the factors of your choice!
Simply download and complete our Personalized SignArrays® information file
and send it at
[email protected]
to initiate your project.
The autophagy pathway is a cellular degradation and recycling system that removes damaged organelles and proteins through lysosomal degradation to maintain cellular homeostasis
Autophagy is regulated primarily by mTOR (inhibitory) and AMPK (activating), which control the ULK complex responsible for autophagy initiation.
Key genes include ATG5, ATG7, ATG12, BECN1, MAP1LC3B (LC3), SQSTM1 (p62), ULK1 and LAMP1.
Autophagy can suppress tumor initiation but later support tumor survival, metabolic adaptation, and resistance to therapy.
Autophagy activity can be assessed by measuring expression of ATG genes, lysosomal markers, and pathway regulators using targeted gene expression tools such as qPCR pathway arrays.
| Signaling Pathways | Product ref | Informations |
|---|---|---|
Autophagy | AT1H1 |
| Signaling Pathways | Product ref | Informations |
|---|---|---|
Autophagy | AT1M1 |
| Signaling Pathways | Product ref | Informations |
|---|---|---|
Autophagy | ******* |
Biomarker list in progress. |
| Signaling Pathways | Product ref | Informations |
|---|---|---|
Autophagy | ******* |
Biomarker list in progress. |
Looking for more answers? Visit our Help & FAQ section to find detailed informations about our products, services, and technical support.
1. Mizushima N. & Komatsu M. Autophagy: renovation of cells and tissues. Cell (2011) 147(4):728-741.
2. Klionsky, D. J. et al. A comprehensive glossary of autophagy- related molecules and processes (2nd edition). Autophagy (2011) 7(11):1273-1294.
3. Debnath J, et al. Autophagy and autophagy-related pathways in cancer. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. (2023);24(8):560-575.
4. Dikic I. & Elazar Z. Mechanism and medical implications of mammalian autophagy. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. (2018) 19(6):349-364.
5. Ma Y. et al. Autophagy and cellular immune responses. Immunity (2013) 39(2): 211-227.
6. Kimmelman A. C. & White E. Autophagy and tumor metabolism. Cell Metab. (2017) 25(5): 1037-1043.
7. Nassour J & al. Autophagic cell death restricts chromosomal instability during replicative crisis. Nature. (2019).
8. Klionsky DJ, et al. Autophagy in major human diseases. EMBO J. (2021);40(19):e108863.
9. Yamamoto H, et al. Autophagy genes in biology and disease. Nat Rev Genet. (2023);24(6):382-400.