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Autophagy and Autolysis

Autophagy

• is a housekeeping process in which old organelles are degraded and recycled.

Intracellular membrane wraps around the organelle to be degraded

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forms a double membrane structure called autophagosome

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autophagosome merges with lysosome

↓ Lysosomal hydrolases digest materials inside the autophagosome

↓ released nutrients are reused by the cell.

• Autophagy also supplies vital nutrients to cells when their supply from outside is scarce.

Autolysis

• Damaged cells are removed by autolysis.

Trauma/heat/cold/chemical etc

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damage to the cell

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Lysosomes rupture

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Hydrolase enzymes are released

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1. If the damage is limited → only damaged structures are digested → cell is repaired.

2. If the damage is widespread and severe → entire cell is digested and removed → new cell is formed by mitosis of adjacent cell.

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