Mitophagy Cycle Diagram

PINK1/Parkin labeling, autophagosome engulfment, lysosome fusion and degradation.

Prompt

Create a mitophagy cycle diagram showing PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitochondrial quality control.

Layout:
- Circular process with six numbered steps: healthy mitochondrion, mitochondrial damage / depolarization, PINK1 accumulation, Parkin recruitment and ubiquitination, autophagosome engulfment, lysosome fusion and degradation.
- Put the mitochondrion at each stage around the cycle.
- Show LC3-positive autophagosome membrane forming around the damaged mitochondrion.
- Add a lysosome merging with the autophagosome in the final step.
- Include a small inset comparing healthy membrane potential vs depolarized mitochondrion.

Style:
- Clean cell-biology pathway diagram on white background.
- Mitochondria in coral/orange, ubiquitin tags in purple, autophagosome in teal, lysosome in green.
- Use clear arrows, compact labels, and step numbers.
- Publication-ready for life-science papers and educational explainers.

Use in Generator

When to use

For cell biology / neurodegeneration papers showing mitochondrial quality control.

Variations

mt-Keima reporter overlay

Add a side panel showing the mt-Keima fluorescence reporter — green at neutral pH (mitochondria), red at acidic pH (autolysosomes), demonstrating mitophagy detection in cells.

Tips

Show both healthy and damaged mitochondria. Single-state mitophagy figures lose the contrast.
Color the lysosome distinctly (often coral/orange) so fusion is visually obvious.
Close the loop back to biogenesis. One-way mitophagy figures miss the cell-biology story.

FAQ

Can I show drug perturbation points?

Annotate where common perturbations act: mitochondrial uncouplers (CCCP) at Stage 1, V-ATPase inhibitors (Bafilomycin A1) at Stage 4.