Historical overview of autophagy

Abstract

This chapter highlights those scientists who founded the field of autophagy (APG) research during its beginnings to those that have made key discoveries to advance the field into the mainstream of science. In the beginning, researchers were interested in lysosome morphology and function and how it related to protein turnover. These early studies were limited to morphological and biochemical methods that were restricted to mammalian cells and organs. APG was thought to be a highly regulated nonselective degradative process that could lead to cell death. When APG was characterized in yeast, a genetic model emerged allowing the identification of APG-related genes. Soon, new protein markers became available to better monitor and characterize APG in yeast, plants, insects, and animals. We now appreciate that APG has a positive role in cellular homeostasis and cell survival by recycling needed nutrients to sustain cellular functions and removing dysfunctional organelles and intracellular pathogens.