A paradoxical role of autophagy: promoting protein aggregates and hindering rejuvenation in a Caenorhabditis elegans L1 arrest model.

Autophagy activation may promote the accumulation of intra-lysosomal protein aggregates and induce lysosomal membrane damage.

• Autophagy is commonly seen as a key process for clearing protein aggregates and maintaining cellular health.
• In a specific aging model, autophagy activation was found to hinder rejuvenation.
• The study suggests that autophagy could have both protective and harmful effects on cellular functions, depending on the context.
• Findings indicate that under certain conditions, autophagy may contribute to cellular stress rather than alleviating it.

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