Mouse Apg16L, a novel WD-repeat protein, targets to the autophagic isolation membrane with the Apg12-Apg5 conjugate

Macroautophagy is the major intracellular degradation system delivering cytoplasmic components to the lysosome/vacuole. We have shown that, in yeast and mammalian cells, the Apg12-Apg5 protein conjugate, which is formed by a ubiquitin-like system, is essential for autophagosome formation. In yeast, the Apg12-Apg5 conjugate interacts with a small coiled-coil protein, Apg16, to form a approximately 350 kDa multimeric complex. We demonstrate that the mouse Apg12-Apg5 conjugate forms a approximately 800 kDa protein complex containing a novel WD-repeat protein. Because the N-terminal region of this novel protein shows homology with yeast Apg16, we have designated it mouse Apg16-like protein (Apg16L). Apg16L,…

• MO
  Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
• UO
  University of Tokyo
• JS
  Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
• IO
  Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo