ATG7
ATG7 (autophagy related 7, also known as GSA7 or APG7L) is an E1-like activating enzyme that drives the two ubiquitin-like conjugation systems needed for autophagy and cytoplasm to vacuole transport. It activates ATG12 and the ATG8 family proteins for conjugation. Browse Assay Genie's current range of ATG7 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
ATG7 acts as an E1-like activating enzyme in the two ubiquitin-like systems required for cytoplasm to vacuole transport (Cvt) and autophagy. In one system it activates ATG12 for conjugation with ATG5. In the other it activates the ATG8 family proteins for conjugation with phosphatidylethanolamine. Both systems are needed for ATG8 to associate with Cvt vesicles and autophagosome membranes. ATG7 also facilitates the lipidation of LC3-I with phosphatidylethanolamine to form LC3-II, which is found on autophagosomal membranes.
Beyond core autophagy, ATG7 is required for mitophagy, which helps regulate mitochondrial quantity and quality by reducing mitochondria to a basal level that meets cellular energy requirements and limits excess ROS production. It is also required for autophagic death induced by caspase-8 inhibition, and it modulates p53/TP53 activity to regulate cell cycle and survival during metabolic stress. The protein further supports axonal homeostasis and the prevention of axonal degeneration, the maintenance of haematopoietic stem cells, the formation of Paneth cell granules and adipose differentiation. In the liver it mediates the time-dependent autophagic degradation of the clock repressor CRY1, linking autophagy to the liver clock and glucose metabolism.
The ATG7 gene belongs to the ATG7 family and sits in the HGNC groups for ubiquitin like modifier activating enzymes and autophagy related genes. Alternative splicing produces multiple transcript variants. Earlier names include APG7 autophagy 7-like and ATG7 autophagy related 7 homolog, both referring to the S. cerevisiae counterpart. Mouse and rat orthologs are both named Atg7.
ATG7 activates ATG12 and ATG8 family proteins, making it central to studying how autophagosome membranes form and how LC3-I is converted to LC3-II.
ATG7 is required for mitophagy, which controls mitochondrial quantity and quality and limits excess ROS production.
ATG7 helps maintain axonal homeostasis and prevent axonal degeneration, and has been linked to axon membrane trafficking.
ATG7 contributes to haematopoietic stem cell maintenance, adipose differentiation, Paneth cell granule formation and liver glucose metabolism through CRY1 degradation.
ATG7 is an E1-like activating enzyme. It activates ATG12 for conjugation with ATG5 and the ATG8 family proteins for conjugation with phosphatidylethanolamine. These steps are needed for autophagosome formation, LC3-II generation and the cytoplasm to vacuole transport pathway.
ATG7 is also known as GSA7, APG7L and DKFZp434N0735. Its full name is autophagy related 7, and the UniProt protein name is ubiquitin-like modifier-activating enzyme ATG7. Older names include APG7 autophagy 7-like and ATG7 autophagy related 7 homolog, both referring to S. cerevisiae.
Mouse and rat both have an Atg7 ortholog, and the name derives from the yeast counterpart. The protein is linked to mitophagy, axonal homeostasis, haematopoietic stem cell maintenance, adipose differentiation and p53-dependent responses to metabolic stress. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other autophagy-related proteins, including ATG12 conjugation components and ATG4 proteases, with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt O95352; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.