Atg1 kinase organizes autophagosome formation by phosphorylating Atg9

Abstract

The conserved Ser/Thr kinase Atg1/ULK1 plays a crucial role in the regulation of autophagy. However, only very few Atg1 targets have been identified, impeding elucidation of the mechanisms by which Atg1 regulates autophagy. In our study, we determined the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Atg1 consensus phosphorylation sequence using a peptide array-based approach. Among proteins containing this sequence we identified Atg9, another essential component of the autophagic machinery. We showed that phosphorylation of Atg9 by Atg1 is required for phagophore elongation, shedding light on the mechanism by which Atg1 regulates early steps of autophagy.

Keywords: :

• Atg1/ULK1 kinase
• Atg18/WIPI2
• Atg8
• Atg9
• Cvt pathway
• autophagy

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Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest

No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Acknowledgments

Work in the Kraft laboratory is supported by a Vienna Research Groups for Young Investigators grant from the Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF VRG10-001) and a grant from the Austrian Science Fund (FWF P 25522-B20).