Dimethyl 2-oxoglutarate (Dimethyl α-ketoglutarate), a cell permeable 2-oxoglutarate derivative, is a tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolite with antioxidant properties. Dimethyl 2-oxoglutarate serves as a crucial intermediate in the Krebs cycle and an essential nitrogen carrier in metabolic pathways during biological processes. Dimethyl 2-oxoglutarate inhibits autophagy in an IDH1-, IDH2- and ACLY-dependent fashion in cultured human cells. Dimethyl 2-oxoglutarate efficiently prevents autophagy induced by starvation in mice.