Structural biology of the Atg8 and Atg12 conjugation systems

Abstract

ABSTRACTAtg8 and Atg12 are ubiquitin-like proteins, conjugated to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and Atg5, respectively, through enzymatic reactions similar to ubiquitylation. The resultant Atg8–PE and Atg12–Atg5 conjugates play crucial roles in autophagy. Structural studies have been extensively performed on all Atg proteins (Atg3, Atg4, Atg5, Atg7, Atg8, Atg10, Atg12, Atg16) involved in these conjugation systems. This review summarizes structural studies and discusses mechanisms of conjugation and deconjugation reactions, as well as autophagic functions of the Atg8 and Atg12 conjugation systems.

Keywords

• Atg8
• Atg12
• structural biology
• Atg7
• Atg3
• Atg16