Why does autophagy occur?

Autophagy occurs as a crucial cellular process to maintain homeostasis by degrading and recycling damaged or unnecessary cellular components. It helps remove misfolded proteins, damaged organelles, and pathogens, thus preventing cellular stress and promoting survival under unfavorable conditions. Additionally, autophagy plays a role in adaptation to nutrient deprivation, allowing cells to generate energy and essential metabolites from internal resources. Overall, this process is vital for cellular health, development, and defense mechanisms.