[Multiple functions of autophagy during development]

Abstract

Autophagy is a cellular process that allows degradation by the lysosome of cytoplasmic components such as proteins or organelles. Many studies that used model organisms, showed that autophagy plays an important role in multiple developmental processes like degradation of mitochondria of spermatozoids after fertilization, fetal growth or resistance to nutrient starvation. It is also essential to programmed cell death. The involvement of autophagy in these processes may be related to the production of energy resources in conditions of stress or autophagy can selectively degrade specific proteins during development.