The study by Hou et al. (2016) investigates the relationship between autophagy and ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death characterized by iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation. The authors demonstrate that autophagy contributes to ferroptosis by degrading ferritin, the major intracellular iron storage protein. Knockout or knockdown of Atg5 and Atg7, key autophagy-related genes, limits erastin-induced ferroptosis by reducing intracellular iron levels and lipid peroxidation. Notably, NCOA4, a selective cargo receptor for ferritin degradation (ferritinophagy), plays a crucial role in this process. Genetic inhibition of NCOA4 increases ferritin degradation and suppresses ferroptosis, while overexpression of NCOA4 enhances ferritin degradation and promotes ferroptosis. These findings provide new insights into the interplay between autophagy and regulated cell death, particularly in the context of iron metabolism and ferroptosis.The study by Hou et al. (2016) investigates the relationship between autophagy and ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death characterized by iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation. The authors demonstrate that autophagy contributes to ferroptosis by degrading ferritin, the major intracellular iron storage protein. Knockout or knockdown of Atg5 and Atg7, key autophagy-related genes, limits erastin-induced ferroptosis by reducing intracellular iron levels and lipid peroxidation. Notably, NCOA4, a selective cargo receptor for ferritin degradation (ferritinophagy), plays a crucial role in this process. Genetic inhibition of NCOA4 increases ferritin degradation and suppresses ferroptosis, while overexpression of NCOA4 enhances ferritin degradation and promotes ferroptosis. These findings provide new insights into the interplay between autophagy and regulated cell death, particularly in the context of iron metabolism and ferroptosis.