Glycogen: the missing link in neuronal autophagy?

Macroautophagy/autophagy is an intracellular degradative pathway that is often induced as a pro-survival process for cells under stress. A few recent reports establish the role of the glycogen metabolic pathway in neuronal cell survival in conditions such as oxidative stress and hypoxia, and the possible link between glycogen synthesis and autophagy induction. This commentary highlights the emerging role of GYS (glycogen synthase) in neuronal autophagy and stress response.