ATG8A/B/C are ubiquitin-like proteins essential for autophagosome formation and cargo recruitment. They conjugate with phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) to anchor on autophagosomal membranes, facilitating membrane expansion, substrate recognition (via LIR motifs), and selective degradation of damaged organelles/pathogens. ATG8 isoforms also regulate autophagosome-lysosome fusion and modulate stress responses (e.g., ER/mitochondrial quality control).
AT3G03990 encodes D14 (DWARF 14), an alpha/beta-hydrolase essential for strigolactone (SL) signaling. It acts as an SL receptor that generates and binds the active hormone. Its degradation is promoted by SL, and its mRNA is cell-to-cell mobile.