Autophagy receptors in developmental clearance of mitochondria.

Recent discoveries of autophagy receptors, which specifically recognize different cellular cargo destined for degradation, have opened a new chapter in the autophagy field. Selective cargo recognition by autophagic machinery is important in the context of cellular homeostasis and survival. One of the crucial homeostasis events involving autophagy is the removal of damaged or excessive mitochondria through mitophagy. Future studies on mitochondrial receptors and proteins associated with mitochondrial clearance will help us better understand the role of mitophagy in normal physiological processes as well as in diverse pathological conditions.