Mouse Autophagy Related Protein 4D, ATG4D 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. Plays a role as an autophagy regulator that links mitochondrial dysfunction with apoptosis.

The mitochondrial import of ATG4D during cellular stress and differentiation may play important roles in the regulation of mitochondrial physiology, ROS, mitophagy and cell viability (By similarity).