autophagy

/ɔːtəʊˈfɑːdʒi/

Definitions

1. noun

the process by which cells digest and recycle their own damaged or dysfunctional components, such as proteins or organelles.

“The researcher studied autophagy in cancer cells to understand its role in tumor growth and survival.”

Synonyms

  • cellular self-cleaning
  • self-digestion

Antonyms

  • cellular decay
  • cellular degradation