How does the cell decide what should be recycled in lysosomes?

The cell decides what should be recycled in lysosomes through the selective autophagy of organelles. This is known as organellophagy, which is a selective process that precisely targets and isolates specific cellular components for degradation. During this process, various cellular components (e.g. damaged organelles, macromolecules, or engulfed particles) are tagged for degradation. This tagging can occur through the attachment of specific proteins or modifications, such as ubiquitin, to the cargo molecules. Once tagged, the cargo is enclosed by membrane-bound vesicles, forming structures called autophagosomes. It is important to note that autophagy occurs to eliminate damaged components and maintain energy balance particularly during periods of stress from toxins.