Autophagy is a catabolic process where cells degrade damaged organelles, misfolded proteins, and other cellular debris. This degradation occurs within specialized vesicles called autophagosomes, which subsequently fuse with lysosomes to form autolysosomes. The acidic environment and hydrolytic enzymes within lysosomes break down the autophagic cargo into basic building blocks such as amino acids, lipids, and sugars.
