autolyse
/ˈɔtəˌlaɪz/
verb
- To break down or be broken down by the action of the organism's own enzymes (autolysis).
- In bread making, yeast can autolyse if left too long in water, affecting the dough.
- Scientists observed how the bacteria would autolyse under certain conditions.
- The cells began to autolyse shortly after the tissue was removed from the body.