ATG7

Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens
title: "ATG7" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public description: "Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens" topic_path: "uncategorized" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATG7" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens ::
Autophagy related 7 is a protein in humans encoded by ATG7 gene. Related to GSA7; APG7L; APG7-LIKE.
ATG 7, present in both plant and animal genomes, acts as an essential protein for cell degradation and its recycling. The sequence associates with the ubiquitin- proteasome system, UPS, required for the unique development of an autophagosomal membrane and fusion within cells.
ATG7 was identified based on homology to yeast cells Pichia pastoris GSA7 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae APG7. The protein appears to be required for fusion of peroxisomal and vacuolar membranes.
Autophagy is an important cellular process that helps in maintaining homeostasis. It goes through destroying and recycling the cytoplasmic organelles and macromolecules. During the initiation of autophagy, ATG7 acts like an E-1 enzyme for ubiquitin-like proteins (UBL) such as ATG12 and ATG8. ATG7 helps these UBL proteins in targeting their molecule by binding to them and activating their transfer to an E-2 enzyme. ATG7's role in both of these autophagy-specific UBL systems makes it an essential regulator of autophagosome assembly.
Homologous to the ATP-binding and catalytic sites of E1 activator proteins, ATG7 uses its cysteine residue to create a thiol-ester bond with free Ubiquitin molecules. Through UPS, Ubiquitin will continue to bind to other autophagy-related proteins, E2 conjugation proteins and E3 protein ligases, to attach Ubiquitins to a target substrate to induce autophagy.
ATG 7 is often associated with ATG12/ ATG5 sequenced ubiquitination cascade. As well in presence of p53 cell cycle pathways during stressed and nutrient poor environments.
References
References
- (May 1999). "Glucose-induced autophagy of peroxisomes in Pichia pastoris requires a unique E1-like protein". Molecular Biology of the Cell.
- "Entrez Gene: ATG7 ATG7 autophagy related 7 homolog (S. cerevisiae)".
- {{OMIM. 608760. AUTOPHAGY 7, S. CEREVISIAE, HOMOLOG OF; ATG7
- "Mechanisms for autophagy: 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine". ScienceDaily.
- (March 2013). "Relationship between the proteasomal system and autophagy". International Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
- (May 1999). "Glucose-induced autophagy of peroxisomes in Pichia pastoris requires a unique E1-like protein". Molecular Biology of the Cell.
- (October 2015). "Atg7 in development and disease: panacea or Pandora's Box?". Protein & Cell.
- (July 2006). "Protein degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in normal and disease states". Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
- (July 2001). "The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and proteasome inhibitors". Medicinal Research Reviews.
- (April 2012). "Atg7 modulates p53 activity to regulate cell cycle and survival during metabolic stress". Science.
- (February 2018). "Unraveling the CNOT: A new player in the autophagy-cell death nexus". Science Signaling.
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