ATG12

Domain

Shares weak sequence similarity with ubiquitin family, but contains an 'ubiquitin superfold' and the C-terminal Gly is required for isopeptide linkage.

Function

Ubiquitin-like protein involved in autophagy vesicles formation. Conjugation with ATG5 through a ubiquitin-like conjugating system involving also ATG7 as an E1-like activating enzyme and ATG10 as an E2-like conjugating enzyme, is essential for its function. The ATG12-ATG5 conjugate acts as an E3-like enzyme which is required for lipidation of ATG8 family proteins and their association to the vesicle membranes. As part of the ATG8 conjugation system with ATG5 and ATG16L1, required for recruitment of LRRK2 to stressed lysosomes and induction of LRRK2 kinase activity in response to lysosomal stress (By similarity).

(Microbial infection) May act as a proviral factor. In association with ATG5, negatively regulates the innate antiviral immune response by impairing the type I IFN production pathway upon vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection (PubMed:17709747). Required for the translation of incoming hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and, thereby, for the initiation of HCV replication, but not required once infection is established (PubMed:19666601).

Post-translational modifications

Acetylated by EP300.

Sequence Similarities

Belongs to the ATG12 family.

Tissue Specificity

Ubiquitous.

Cellular localization

• Cytoplasm
• Preautophagosomal structure membrane
• Peripheral membrane protein
• TECPR1 recruits the ATG12-ATG5 conjugate to the autolysosomal membrane.

Alternative names

APG12, APG12L, ATG12, Ubiquitin-like protein ATG12, Autophagy-related protein 12, APG12-like

Database links

swissprot:O94817 entrezGene:9140 omim:609608

Other research areas

• Neuroscience