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Abstract
The lysosomal degradation pathway of autophagy plays a fundamental role in cellular,
tissue, and organismal homeostasis and is mediated by evolutionarily conserved autophagy-related
(ATG) genes. Definitive etiological links exist between mutations in genes that control
autophagy and human disease, especially neurodegenerative, inflammatory disorders
and cancer. Autophagy selectively targets dysfunctional organelles, intracellular
microbes, and pathogenic proteins, and deficiencies in these processes may lead to
disease. Moreover, ATG genes have diverse physiologically important roles in other
membrane-trafficking and signaling pathways. This Review discusses the biological
functions of autophagy genes from the perspective of understanding-and potentially
reversing-the pathophysiology of human disease and aging.