In biology, autolysis, more commonly known as self-digestion, refers to the destruction of a cell through the action of its own enzymes. It may also refer to the digestion of an enzyme by another molecule of the same enzyme. The term derives from the Greek αὐτο- and λύσις.

What does Autolytic?

: breakdown of all or part of a cell or tissue by self-produced enzymes.

What is autolysis caused by?

Spontaneous lysis of cells and tissues caused by the release of lysosomal enzymes. Autolysis is a characteristic postmortem finding and is present in an increasing number of tissues as the body “ages”.