Also known as: GABARAPL2

There are at least three groups of mammalian Apg8 proteins which are homologs of the yeast Atg8 protein, GATE-16 (Golgi-associated ATPase Enhancer of 16 kDa). The mammalian Apg8 proteins are ubiquitin-like modifiers that have divergent functions in humans, and are essential in autophagic conjugation systems. This modifier protein has a conserved C-terminal glycine residue that becomes covalently attached to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) after it is activated by the Apg7p (E1) and Apg3p (E2) enzymes. GATE-16 is highly conserved from yeast to mammals, is constitutively expressed in secretory organs and localizes to the Golgi apparatus. The protein participates in membrane-trafficking events, and it has been proposed that GATE-16
modulates intra-Golgi transport by acting as an adaptor protein that couples NSF activity and SNARE activation. Accession # NP_009216.