Mouse Autophagy Related Protein 4C, ATG4C ELI

Cysteine protease required for the cytoplasm to vacuole transport (Cvt) and autophagy.

Cleaves the C-terminal amino acid of ATG8 family proteins MAP1LC3 and GABARAPL2, to reveal a C-terminal glycine.

Exposure of the glycine at the C-terminus is essential for ATG8 proteins conjugation to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and insertion to membranes, which is necessary for autophagy.

Has also an activity of delipidating enzyme for the PE-conjugated forms (By similarity).