Autophagy related 5 (ATG5) (ATG5)

Autophagy related 5 (ATG5) is a fundamental protein required for the formation of autophagosomes, the double-membrane vesicles that sequester cytoplasmic components for lysosomal degradation [UniProt: Q9H1Y0]. It functions by forming a constitutive covalent complex with ATG12, which then non-covalently associates with ATG16L1 to act as an E3-like ligase that facilitates the lipidation of LC3 (microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3), a key step in membrane elongation [PMID: 16703040]. Beyond its central role in macroautophagy, ATG5 is involved in regulating apoptosis and the innate immune response through the clearance of intracellular pathogens [NCBI Gene: 9474]. In disease, ATG5 expression is often dysregulated; it can promote tumor survival and drug resistance in established cancers, while its deficiency is linked to neurodegenerative disorders due to the accumulation of toxic protein aggregates [PMID: 23392225]. Therapeutic strategies targeting ATG5 mRNA, such as siRNAs or antisense oligonucleotides, aim to modulate autophagy levels to treat conditions like cancer or inflammatory diseases, though maintaining the balance of basal autophagy is a significant safety challenge [PMID: 30135601].

Other names

APG5APG5LASPhAPG5Autophagy-related protein 5

Inhibition of ATG5 protein synthesis via mRNA degradation or translational repression, leading to the suppression of the ATG12-ATG5-ATG16L1 complex and subsequent blockade of autophagosome assembly [PMID: 30135601].