Phagophores
/ˈfæɡ.əˌfɔːrz/noun
A phagophore is a cup-shaped membrane structure that forms during autophagy and develops into an autophagosome.
Did you know?Phagophore comes from Greek roots meaning “to eat” and “to carry/bear,” so the name itself captures the first membrane that carries out the cell’s self-eating process.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
phagein
“to eat”
Ancient Greek
Greek
pherein
“to carry, bear”
20th Century
English
phagophore
“a cup-shaped precursor membrane in autophagy”
Modern English
English
phagophore
“the initial membrane structure that expands into an autophagosome”