Autophagy is triggered by various stress conditions, including nutrient deprivation, hypoxia, oxidative stress, and infection. It is primarily regulated by a complex signaling network involving the mTOR pathway, which senses nutrient availability and regulates autophagy initiation. When nutrients are scarce, mTOR activity is inhibited, leading to the activation of autophagy-related genes and the initiation of the autophagic process.
