IRGM : immunity related GTPase M
Description
The IRGM (immunity related GTPase M) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 5.
The IRGM gene provides instructions for making a protein that plays an important role in the immune system. This protein is involved in a process called autophagy, which cells use to surround and destroy foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. Specifically, the IRGM protein helps trigger autophagy in cells infected with certain kinds of bacteria, including the type of bacteria that causes tuberculosis. In addition to protecting cells from infection, autophagy is used to recycle worn-out cell parts and break down certain proteins when they are no longer needed. This process also plays an important role in controlled cell death (apoptosis).
Immunity-related GTPase that plays important roles in innate immunity and inflammatory response (PubMed:16888103, PubMed:19165925, PubMed:25891078). Acts as a dynamin-like protein that binds to intracellular membranes and promotes remodeling and trafficking of those membranes (By similarity). Required for clearance of acute protozoan and bacterial infections by interacting with autophagy and lysosome regulatory proteins, thereby promoting the fusion of phagosomes with lysosomes for efficient degradation of cargo including microbes (PubMed:16888103, PubMed:25891078, PubMed:29420192, PubMed:32939830). Regulates selective autophagy, including xenophagy and mitophagy, both directly and indirectly (PubMed:16888103, PubMed:25891078, PubMed:29420192, PubMed:32939830). Directly regulates autophagy by acting as a molecular adapter that promotes the coassembly of the core autophagy machinery to mediate antimicrobial defense: IRGM (1) activates AMPK, which in turn phosphorylates ULK1 and BECN1 to induce autophagy, (2) promotes the coassembly of ULK1 and BECN1, enhancing BECN1-interacting partners and (3) influences the composition of the BECN1 complex, by competing with the negative regulators BCL2 and RUBCN, to trigger autophagy (PubMed:25891078). Also activates autophagy by promoting recruitment of STX17 to autophagosomes (PubMed:29420192). In collaboration with ATG8 proteins, regulate lysosomal biogenesis, a fundamental process for any autophagic pathway, by promoting TFEB dephosphorylation (PubMed:32753672). Also modulates autophagy by assisting with autophagosome formation and preventing lysosomal deacidification (By similarity). While activating autophagy, acts as a key negative regulator of the inflammatory and interferon responses both by (1) promoting mitophagy and (2) mediating autophagy-dependent degradation of effectors of the inflammatory response (PubMed:30612879, PubMed:32715615, PubMed:36221902). Promotes degradation of damaged and IFNG/IFN-gamma-stressed mitochondria via mitophagy, preventing cytosolic release of ligands that activate inflammation (PubMed:32715615). Acts as a suppressor of inflammation by promoting recruitment of inflammation effectors, such as CGAS, RIGI/RIG-I and NLRP3, to autophagosome membranes, leading to their SQSTM1/p62-dependent autophagic degradation (PubMed:30612879, PubMed:32715615). Also directly inhibits assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome by preventing the association between NLRP3 and PYCARD (PubMed:30612879). Acts as a negative regulator of antiviral innate immune response by suppressing the RIPK2-dependent pro-inflammatory response: mediates recruitment of RIPosomes, composed of RIPK2 and NOD1 or NOD2, to autophagosome membranes, promoting their SQSTM1/p62-dependent autophagic degradation (PubMed:34467632, PubMed:36221902). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:Q60766, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16888103, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19165925, ECO:0000269|PubMed:25891078, ECO:0000269|PubMed:29420192, ECO:0000269|PubMed:30612879, ECO:0000269|PubMed:32715615, ECO:0000269|PubMed:32753672, ECO:0000269|PubMed:32939830, ECO:0000269|PubMed:34467632, ECO:0000269|PubMed:36221902}
IRGM is also known as IBD19, IFI1, IRGM1, LRG-47, LRG47.
