ATG101
Description
The ATG101 (autophagy related 101) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 12.
Autophagy-related protein 101, also known as ATG101, is a protein encoded by the C12orf44 gene (chromosome 12 open reading frame 44). Autophagy is the process of sequestering target proteins, organelles, aggregates, and other cytoplasmic species inside large membrane-bound vesicles and delivering them to lysosomes for degradation. The ATG101 protein is localized in the cytoplasm, but can possibly also be found bound to a structure known as a phagophore, involved in the initial steps of autophagy. The gene is highly conserved among mammals, as well as showing conservation among most eukaryotes. It is thought to directly interact with ATG13 in the ULK1 complex, which may be important for activating phagophores. ATG101 is one of dozens of diverse proteins named for their involvement in autophagy, a process well conserved among most eukaryotic organisms. However, ATG101 is not homologous to any of the other ATG proteins. ATG101 interacts with essential autophagy protein ATG13 in mammals, which is an ULK1-interacting protein. ULK1 (unc-51-like kinase 1) is thought to be important in the activation of macroautophagy in mammals. ATG101 is suggested to protect ATG13 from proteasomal degradation, thereby stabilizing levels of ATG13 found in cells and regulating levels of macroautophagy.
ATG101 is also known as C12orf44.
