ATG2A
Description
The ATG2A (autophagy related 2A) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 11.
ATG2A is a human gene encoding a protein involved in autophagy, a cellular process that degrades and recycles cellular components. This protein is crucial for the formation of autophagosomes, which are double-membrane vesicles that engulf cellular components for degradation. ATG2A acts as a lipid transfer protein, moving lipids from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the isolation membrane (IM), contributing to its expansion. It interacts with various proteins involved in autophagy, including ATG9A, WDR45/WIPI4, and WIPI1. Additionally, ATG2A plays a role in regulating the morphology and distribution of lipid droplets within the cell.
ATG2A is a lipid transfer protein that plays a crucial role in autophagosome assembly. It facilitates the transfer of lipids from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the isolation membrane (IM), contributing to the expansion of the IM during autophagosome formation. ATG2A interacts with the ER exit site (ERES), the source of membrane for autophagosomes, and extracts phospholipids, which are then transferred to ATG9 (ATG9A or ATG9B) at the IM. This lipid transfer activity is enhanced by WIPI1 and WDR45/WIPI4, which promote the association of ATG2A with PI3P-containing membranes. In addition to its role in autophagy, ATG2A also regulates the morphology and distribution of lipid droplets within the cell.
ATG2A is also known as BLTP4A.
