Alias |
AI627006,APG4 autophagy 4 homolog A,Apg4a,ATG4 autophagy related 4 homolog A (S. cerevisiae),ATG4 autophagy related 4 homolog A,ATG4A,Atg4al,AUT like 2 cysteine endopeptidase,AUT-like 2 cysteine endopeptidase,Autl2,Autophagin 2,Autophagin-2,Autophagy related 4A cysteine peptidase,Autophagy related cysteine endopeptidase 2,Autophagy related protein 4 homolog A,Autophagy-related cysteine endopeptidase 2,Autophagy-related protein 4 homolog A,AV169859,Cysteine protease ATG4A,hAPG4A,MGC107179 |
Background |
Autophagy is the process by which endogenous proteins and damaged organelles are destroyed intracellularly. Autophagy is postulated to be essential for cell homeostasis and cell remodeling during differentiation, metamorphosis, non-apoptotic cell death, and aging. Reduced levels of autophagy have been described in some malignant tumors, and a role for autophagy in controlling the unregulated cell growth linked to cancer has been proposed. This gene encodes a member of the autophagin protein family. The encoded protein is also designated as a member of the C-54 family of cysteine proteases. Transcript variants that encode distinct isoforms have been identified. |