An N-terminal conserved region in human Atg3 couples membrane curvature sensitivity to conjugase activity during autophagy

The E2-like enzyme human Atg3 catalyses the transfer of ubiquitin-like mammalian LC3 to the lipid phosphatidylethanolamine during autophagosome formation. Here, the authors combine NMR measurements with in vitro biochemical and in vivo cellular assays and show that the N-terminal conserved region of human Atg3 communicates information from the curvature-sensing domain to its active site.