The Atg2-Atg18 complex tethers pre-autophagosomal membranes to the endoplasmic reticulum for autophagosome formation.

ABSTRACT: The biogenesis of double-membrane vesicles called autophagosomes, which sequester and transport intracellular material for degradation in lysosomes or vacuoles, is a central event in autophagy. This process requires a unique set of factors called autophagy-related (Atg) proteins. The Atg proteins assemble to organize the preautophagosomal structure (PAS), at which a cup-shaped membrane, the isolation membrane (or phagophore), forms and expands to become the autophagosome. The molecular mechanism of autophagosome biogenesis remains poorly understood. Previous studies have shown that Atg2 forms a complex with the phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI3P)-binding protein Atg18 and localizes to the PAS to initiate autophagosome biogenesis; however, the molecular function of Atg2 remains unknown.

SUBMITTER: Kotani T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6187169 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature