This book provides an expert summary of autophagy, a relatively new but rapidly expanding field of biomedical science with important implications in health and disease. After a historical review ranging up to the identification of autophagy genes in mammals, the authors discuss the signaling pathways that regulate autophagy, the mechanism of autophagosome formation and the physiological roles of autophagy in development, ageing, neurodegeneration, immune function and cell differentiation. A comprehensive list of useful antibodies for studying autophagy compiled as a community effort is included at the end. The book is intended for newcomers to the field, as well as more experienced researchers looking for a condensed but comprehensive introduction to the physiological function and regulation of the autophagic pathway in mammalian organisms.