Atg12-Interacting Motif Is Crucial for E2–E3 Interaction in Plant Atg8 System

Autophagy is an intracellular degradation system regulating cellular homeostasis. The two ubiquitin-like modification systems named the Atg8 system and the Atg12 system are essential for autophagy. Atg8 and Atg12 are ubiquitin-like proteins covalently conjugated with a phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and Atg5, respectively, via enzymatic reactions. The Atg8–PE conjugate binds to autophagic membranes and recruits various proteins through direct...