Integrating bioengineering, super-resolution microscopy and mechanobiology in autophagy research: addendum to the guidelines (4th edition).

Recent key technological developments, such as super-resolution microscopy and microfabrication, enabled investigation of biological processes, including macroautophagy/autophagy, with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution and control over experimental conditions. Such disruptive innovations deepened our capability to provide mechanistic understandings of the autophagic process and its causes. This addendum aims to expand the guidelines on autophagy in three key directions: optical methods enabling visualization of autophagic machinery beyond the diffraction-limited resolution; bioengineering enabling accurate designs and control over experimental conditions; and theoretical advances in mechanobiology connecting autophagy and mechanical processes of the cell. Abbreviation: 3D: three-dimensional; SIM: structured illumination microscopy; STORM: stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy.