Autophagy at the crossroads of metabolism and cellular defense

Purpose of reviewFrom its initial description as a homeostatic process required for starvation response, autophagy has emerged as a ubiquitous cellular process involved in a broad range of cellular activities from metabolic adaptation to cellular defense against invading pathogens. This review provides an overview of autophagy and highlights the recent developments in deciphering its role in metabolic adaptation and its importance in antibacterial defense with attention to regulatory pathways.Recent findingsWithin the last 2 years, there has been significant progress in deciphering the mechanisms by which autophagy is regulated, including subcellular localization, posttranslational modifications, and transcriptional control. In addition, the cell type-specific role of autophagy in maintaining cellular homeostasis has been defined, including its role in handling intracellular pathogens and its contribution to inflammatory bowel disease.SummaryAutophagy is a critical pathway that integrates numerous regulatory inputs to maintain cellular homeostasis and defend against intracellular pathogens.