autophagic
Eating one's own
Autophagic describes the process by which cells break down and recycle their own components—damaged proteins, worn-out organelles, or other cellular debris.
The term comes from Greek roots meaning "self-eating." In biology and medicine, autophagic activity increases during starvation or stress: The researchers observed autophagic degradation of mitochondria.
Figuratively rare, but occasionally describes self-consuming processes.
Digestive organelle in cells
- sequestrationAct of setting apart
- vesicleSmall fluid-filled sac
- endosomeMembrane sac for internalized cargo
- membraneThin tissue sheet
Enzymatic protein breakdown
- catabolismMetabolic molecular dismantling
- turnoverSales volume or attrition
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
- digestionBodily food breakdown
recycling · clearance · acidification · hydrolase · self-digestion
Progressive loss of neurons
- Alzheimer'sDegenerative brain disease
- Parkinson'sNeurodegenerative motor disorder
- Huntington'sInherited neurodegenerative condition
- cardiomyopathyHeart muscle disorder
cancer · infection · inflammation · aging · senescence · dysfunction · deficiency · impairment
Body's reaction to threat
- longevityDuration of existence
- lifespanTotal existence duration
- neuroprotectionSafeguarding neurons from damage
- quality controlMaintaining production standards
Biological internal stability maintenance
- energeticsStudy of power transformations
- anabolismMetabolic construction of molecules
- biosynthesisLiving production of molecules
- metabolitesChemicals from bodily processes
lysosome
Digestive organelle in cells
- sequestrationAct of setting apart
- vesicleSmall fluid-filled sac
- endosomeMembrane sac for internalized cargo
proteolysis
Enzymatic protein breakdown
- catabolismMetabolic molecular dismantling
- turnoverSales volume or attrition
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
digestion · recycling · clearance · acidification · hydrolase · self-digestion
neurodegeneration
Progressive loss of neurons
- Alzheimer'sDegenerative brain disease
- Parkinson'sNeurodegenerative motor disorder
- Huntington'sInherited neurodegenerative condition
cardiomyopathy · cancer · infection · inflammation · aging · senescence · dysfunction · deficiency · impairment · disease
stress response
Body's reaction to threat
- longevityDuration of existence
- lifespanTotal existence duration
- neuroprotectionSafeguarding neurons from damage
homeostasis
Biological internal stability maintenance
- energeticsStudy of power transformations
- anabolismMetabolic construction of molecules
- biosynthesisLiving production of molecules
autophagicanabolic
Building complex molecules
biosynthetic · synthetic · proliferative · hypertrophic · accretive