Autophagosomes contain components of the cell that are breaking down (eg. damaged ER, worn-out mitochondria) and have become sequestered in the cell by a membrane.

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Begin by restating what the question is asking: whether autophagosomes contain cellular components that are undergoing breakdown and have been sequestered by a membrane.
Option 1: True. This aligns with the core concept of autophagy in which damaged organelles or cytoplasmic constituents are enclosed by an isolation membrane to form an autophagosome, which then fuses with a lysosome for degradation. The description mentions damaged ER and worn-out mitochondria, which are classic substrates targeted by selective autophagy, consistent with known cellular pathways.
Option 2: False. This would be incorrect because it contradicts established biology: autophagosomes are defined as double-mymembrane vesicles that sequester cytoplasmic material for degradation, not as empty or non-sequestered structures. Claiming that autophagosomes do not contain breakdown-ready components overlooks the fundamental purpose of autophagy and the composition of autophagosomes.
To further dissect, consider what autophagosomes are: a membrane-bound vesicular compartment that engulfs portions of cytoplasm, organelles, or protein aggregates marked for turnover. The engulfed material is precisely what is degraded after fusion with lysosomes, reinforcing why the statement describes autophagosomes accurately.
In contrast, if one reads the statement as implying autophagosomes are not involved with sequestration or degradation, it would misrepresent the essential mechanism of autophagy, making the falsity of that option clear. Overall, the correct framing is that autophagosomes do contain components slated for breakdown and are formed by membrane sequestration.

AVBS2005 (ND) Cytology II

Autophagosomes contain components of the cell that are breaking down (eg. damaged ER, worn-out mitochondria) and have become sequestered in the cell by a membrane.

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