B2 Non-refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book

Discerning Autophagy Pathway Intermediates: Transmission Electron Microscopy Techniques




AuthorsBiazik, Joanna; Kallio, Katri; Gudmundsson, Sigurdur Runar; Eskelinen, Eeva-Liisa

EditorsBen Loos, Daniel J. Klionsky

Publication year2025

Book title Autophagy - From Molecular Mechanisms to Flux Control in Health and Disease

Series title Learning Materials in Biosciences

First page 29

Last page42

ISBN978-3-031-88120-6

eISBN978-3-031-88121-3

ISSN2509-6125

eISSN2509-6133

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-88121-3_2

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingNo Open Access

Publication channel's open availability No Open Access publication channel

Web address https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-88121-3_2

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/499363537


Abstract

In this chapter, you will learn guidelines on how to identify macroautophagy/autophagy pathway intermediates in transmission electron microscopy samples prepared using conventional techniques including chemical fixation and plastic embedding. We will describe the typical morphological features of phagophores, autophagosomes, amphisomes and autolysosomes induced by amino-acid starvation in mammalian cells. We will point out what you should keep in mind when interpreting transmission electron microscope images taken of very thin sections cut from much thicker cells and organelles. You will also learn how immuno-electron microscopy of endogenous MAP1 LC3/LC3 can be used to help identification of autophagy pathway intermediates.


Funding information in the publication
We thank the Electron Microscopy Unit, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, and the Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, for availability of technical assistance and instruments, and Academy of Finland for research funding.


Last updated on 27/11/2025 11:14:29 AM