Autophagy in development, cell differentiation, and homeodynamics: From molecular mechanisms to diseases and pathophysiology

Abstract

The focus of this special issue is to highlight the role of autophagy in cellular homeodynamics, cell differentiation, and development with an outlook to diseases. Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved catabolic process where cytoplasmic components are sequestered into double-membrane vesicles called autophagosomes, which then fuse with lysosomes and their content is degraded. Despite the significant progress observed over recent years in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of autophagy, the elucidation of its role in developmental processes still remains a challenge for the scientific community. Given the role of autophagy in pathophysiology and diseases, it is essential to uncover how the mechanisms of autophagy function during developmental processes in the context of tissue and organismal physiology. This special issue contains a collection of four original research papers, four review articles, and one methodology report, covering a broad range of topics.