What process involves the formation of isolation membranes in the cell?

The process that involves the formation of isolation membranes in the cell is autocautophy. This biological mechanism is critical for the degradation and recycling of cellular components. During autophagy, a double-membrane structure called an autophagosome is formed around the cellular material intended for degradation, such as damaged organelles, misfolded proteins, or other cytoplasmic components. This isolation membrane secludes the material from the rest of the cytoplasm, allowing for its subsequent fusion with lysosomes where degradation can occur.

Autophagy plays a vital role in maintaining cellular homeostasis, managing energy levels, and responding to stress within the cell. This process is essential for cellular health, as it helps to clear out damaged parts and provides building blocks for new cellular components.

In contrast, mitosis involves the division of a cell into two daughter cells and does not involve the creation of isolation membranes specifically for degradation purposes. Endocytosis is the process by which cells internalize substances from their environment by engulfing them in membrane vesicles, while exocytosis deals with the expulsion of substances from the cell. Neither of these processes is centered around the isolation and degradation of cellular components in the way that autophagy is.