SIGNAL-TRANSDUCTION PATHWAYS IN MACROAUTOPHAGY

Macroautophagy is a major cellular catabolic pathway involved in the r egulation of cell homeostasis. It is initiated by the sequestration of intracellular material by a wrapping membrane and terminates with the fusion of autophagic vacuoles with the lysosomal compartment. Macroau tophagy has been extensively studied at the morphological level and in terms of environmental responses (nutrient deprivation, hormones). Re cently a burst of data has emerged concerning the intracellular molecu lar events involved in the control of mac roautophagic sequestration. It is becoming clear that the initial sequestration step of macroautop hagy is under the control of different signalling pathways. (C) 1997 E lsevier Science Inc.