A small switch has a large effect on autophagy.
Résumé
Atg8 family proteins and Atg13 are important regulators of autophagy. In this issue of Structure, Suzuki and colleagues describe crystal structures of light chain 3 (LC3; Atg8) in complex with the Atg13 LC3 interacting region (LIR) motif and identify a subtle switch of side chain conformation regulating the LC3-LIR interaction and autophagosome formation in vivo.