ATG4D

ATG4D is a gene that encodes a protein in humans. It is part of the Autophagy-related 4 (ATG4) family of proteins, which are cysteine proteases involved in autophagy, a cellular process that degrades and recycles unnecessary or dysfunctional components of the cell.

Function

The ATG4D protein is involved in the initial stages of autophagy. It is responsible for the cleavage of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)-conjugated MAP1LC3 and GABARAPL2, which are essential for the formation of autophagosomes, the structures that carry out autophagy.

Clinical significance

Mutations in the ATG4D gene have been associated with a number of diseases. For example, a mutation in ATG4D has been identified in a family with systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disease. In addition, ATG4D has been implicated in cancer, with its overexpression associated with poor prognosis in several types of cancer, including breast cancer and colorectal cancer.

Research

Research into ATG4D is ongoing, with studies investigating its role in autophagy and its potential as a therapeutic target in diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disorders.

See also

• Autophagy
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Breast cancer
• Colorectal cancer