Difference Between Autophagy and Phagocytosis
The difference between autophagy and phagocytosis are given below:
Feature |
Autophagy |
Phagocytosis |
Definition |
Cellular process of self-degradation |
Cellular process of engulfing particles |
Purpose |
Degrades and recycles cellular components |
Engulfs and digests extracellular material |
Type of Material |
Self-derived, intracellular components |
External, extracellular particles |
Mechanism |
Involves formation of autophagosomes |
Formation of pseudopods for engulfment |
Selectivity |
Can be selective or non-selective. |
Can be selective or non-selective |
Organelle Involvement |
Lysosomes and autophagosomes |
Phagosomes and lysosomes |
Cellular Response |
Response to stress, starvation, and aging |
Response to infection and foreign bodies |
Role in Health |
Maintains cellular homeostasis and health |
Part of immune response and defense |
Autophagy
Autophagy comes from Greek words “auto” (self) and “phagy” (eating), which means cells eating themselves. Autophagy is a process where cells get rid of damaged parts to stay healthy. The various types of autophagy include macroautophagy, microautophagy, and chaperone-mediated autophagy. In this article, we will cover in-depth about autophagy types, examples, and more.
Table of Content
- Autophagy Meaning
- Autophagy Mechanism
- Autophagy Causes
- Autophagy Functions
- Types of Autophagy
- Macroautophagy
- Microautophagy
- Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy (CMA)
- Selective Autophagy
- Mitophagy
- Pexophagy
- Lipophagy
- Cytophagy
- Autophagy and Autolysis
- Difference Between Autophagy and Phagocytosis
- Why is Autophagy Important?
Contact Us