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AAT Bioquest

What are the similarities between autophagy and apoptosis?

Posted June 9, 2023


Answer

There are various similarities between autophagy and apoptosis. Both processes result in a form of programmed cell death. They are also both naturally occurring in the body, and do not deliberately cause damage to other cells or cellular components. Another similarity is that both are important for development and the overall physiology of cells. They both function to maintain organismal and cellular homeostasis. Apoptosis destroys damaged or unwanted cells, and autophagy maintains cellular homeostasis by recycling specific organelles and molecules. Additionally, autophagy and apoptosis are significant in understanding the cellular processes of different illnesses like cancer and immune system disorders. 

Additional resources

Apoptosis and Autophagy: regulatory connections between two supposedly different processes

Apoptosis and Necrosis

Cell Meter™ Apoptotic and Necrotic Multiplexing Detection Kit I *Triple Fluorescence Colors*