In yeast, autophagy is an essential process for survival during nutrient starvation and cell differentiation. The process of autophagy is characterized as a non-selective degradation of cytoplasmic proteins into membrane stuctures called autophagosomes, and it is dependent on several proteins, including the autophagy proteins APG5 and APG7. Yeast Apg7 and the human homolog, APG7, share similarities with the ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and are likewise responsible for enzymatically activating the autophagy conjugation system. Apg5 and the human homolog, APG5 (also designated apoptosis specific protein or APS), function as substrates for the autophagy protein APG12. These proteins are covalently bonded together to form APG12/APG5 conjugates, which are required for the progression of autophagy.
