ATG12
ATG12 (autophagy related 12, also known as APG12 and APG12L) is a ubiquitin-like protein and the human homologue of a yeast protein involved in autophagy. It belongs to the ATG12 family and localises to the cytoplasm and the preautophagosomal structure membrane. Browse Assay Genie's current range of ATG12 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
Autophagy is a process of bulk protein degradation in which cytoplasmic components, including organelles, are enclosed in double-membrane structures called autophagosomes and delivered to lysosomes or vacuoles for degradation. ATG12 is the human homologue of a yeast protein involved in this pathway, first described by Mizushima and colleagues in 1998. The protein is found in the cytoplasm and at the membrane of the preautophagosomal structure, the site associated with autophagosome formation.
Beyond its role in autophagy, UniProt annotates ATG12 with functions in microbial infection. In association with ATG5, ATG12 negatively regulates the innate antiviral immune response by impairing the type I interferon production pathway upon vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection. It may also act as a proviral factor: it is required for the translation of incoming hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and therefore for the initiation of HCV replication, although it is not required once infection is established.
The ATG12 gene is a member of the HGNC groups for autophagy related genes and atypical E3 ubiquitin ligases. Earlier names include Apg12 (autophagy 12, S. cerevisiae)-like and APG12 autophagy 12-like, reflecting its yeast origin. Mouse and rat both carry an Atg12 orthologue, which allows the pathway to be studied in rodent systems. Researchers studying the ATG12 protein often look at it alongside ATG5, ATG7 and ATG10, other components of the autophagy machinery.
ATG12 is the human homologue of a yeast autophagy protein, making it a core subject for studying autophagosome formation and lysosomal degradation.
With ATG5, ATG12 negatively regulates type I interferon production during vesicular stomatitis virus infection, linking autophagy proteins to antiviral signalling.
ATG12 is required for translation of incoming HCV RNA and the initiation of replication, but not once infection is established.
As a ubiquitin-like protein in the HGNC atypical E3 ubiquitin ligase group, ATG12 is relevant to studies of ubiquitin-like conjugation pathways.
ATG12 is a ubiquitin-like protein involved in autophagy, the process that encloses cytoplasmic components in autophagosomes for delivery to lysosomes. UniProt also notes that, with ATG5, it dampens type I interferon production after VSV infection and supports HCV RNA translation.
ATG12 is also known as APG12 and APG12L. Earlier HGNC names include Apg12 (autophagy 12, S. cerevisiae)-like and ATG12 autophagy related 12 homolog (S. cerevisiae). UniProt lists the protein as ubiquitin-like protein ATG12, a member of the ATG12 family.
ATG12 is the human homologue of a yeast autophagy protein, and mouse and rat each have an Atg12 orthologue. This conservation supports work in yeast and rodent models. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other autophagy related proteins and pathway partners of ATG12 with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt O94817; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.