Revealing the identity of the last unknown protein of autophagy

(Japan Science and Technology Agency) Japanese scientists discovered that Atg9, one of the proteins that function to mediate autophagy, has phospholipid-translocation activity (the lipid scramblase activity) between the two layers of the lipid bilayer?and elucidated that the protein's activity brings about autophagosome membrane expansion. The artificial control of autophagy is expected to promote the research and development of treating and preventing various diseases.
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - Category: Biology Source Type: news