The 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine honors Japanese scientist, Yoshinori Ohsumi, whose original work has elucidated the mechanism and physiological function of autophagy. His work helped us understand many physiological processes, for example adaptation to starvation and immune response to infection, and opened a new avenue for the development of therapeutic strategies against autophagy-related maladies. Here we briefly introduce his work about autophagy, the significance of his findings to human health, and related research progress at home and abroad.

2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine  /  apoptosis  /  autophagy