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Journal article
Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)
Autophagy, Vol.17(1), pp.1-382
17
2021
PMCID: PMC7996087
PMID: 33634751
Web of Science ID: WOS:000636121800001
Abstract
In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field.
Details
- Title
- Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)
- Publication Details
- Autophagy, Vol.17(1), pp.1-382
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis Inc.; United States
- Series
- 17
- Format
- pdf
- Grant note
- This work was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences [GM131919]. Due to space and other limitations, it is not possible to include all other sources of financial support.
- Copyright
- © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
- Identifiers
- WOS:000636121800001; 99380090869206600
- Academic Unit
- Movement Sciences and Health; Usha Kundu, MD College of Health
- Language
- English