Piecing together the protein dynamics of final-stage autophagy

Autophagy is the cell’s means to degrade large portions of its internal material. Though at first appearing self-cannibalistic and at odds with cell survival, this process is actually a key contributor to cell health. With well-established links to diverse disease states including tumuorigenesis and neurodegenerative disorders, autophagy is intensively researched for therapeutic goals. While research has begun to clarify the factors that initiate and regulate the early events in this pathway, the regulation of events that complete it remain less understood. I will discuss how advanced imaging has allowed us to begin to untangle the protein dynamics that are required in the final events of autophagy.