Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42816491›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

A lipid transfer-dependent feedback loop activates ATG9A compartments in autophagy initiation.

Elisabeth Holzer, Justyna Sawa-Makarska, Daniel Bernklau, Julia Romanov, Martina Schuschnig, Sascha Martens

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Elisabeth HolzerMax Perutz Labs, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0003-1806-737X
Justyna Sawa-MakarskaMax Perutz Labs, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-9321-976X
Daniel BernklauMax Perutz Labs, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria.
Julia RomanovMax Perutz Labs, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria.
Martina SchuschnigMax Perutz Labs, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria.
Sascha MartensMax Perutz Labs, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria. sascha.martens@univie.ac.at.ORCID 0000-0003-3786-8199

Funding

Austrian Science Fund (Fonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung) 10.55776/P35061
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Autophagy degrades cellular material by sequestering it within autophagosomes, which form de novo from precursors called phagophores. Phagophore assembly and expansion require ATG9A-positive seed compartments, the lipid transfer protein ATG2A, and the class III phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate kinase complex I (PI3KC3-C1). PI3KC3-C1 synthesizes phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI3P), a key lipid that drives downstream processes for phagophore expansion, including ATG8 lipidation. We find that ATG9A compartments contain only traces of phosphatidylinositol (PI), likely insufficient for efficient PI3P production or recruitment of PI3P-binding effectors. Nevertheless, ATG2A is recruited to these compartments and mediates lipid transfer, including PI, into them. Remarkably, even without detectable PI3P, ATG9A compartments are direct substrates for ATG8 lipidation, and ATG8 proteins themselves enhance ATG2A-mediated lipid transfer. In cells, ATG2A is essential for the appearance of PI3P on ATG9A compartments. Our findings support a model in which a lipid transfer-driven feedback loop activates ATG9A compartments for phagophore expansion.

Indexed as

AutophagyAutophagy-Related ProteinsMembrane ProteinsVesicular Transport ProteinsAnimalsAutophagosomesAutophagy-Related Protein 8 FamilyClass III Phosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesFeedback, PhysiologicalHumansPhosphatidylinositol PhosphatesATG2A protein, humanATG9A protein, humanAutophagy-Related Protein 8 FamilyAutophagy-Related ProteinsClass III Phosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesMembrane Proteinsphosphatidylinositol 3-phosphatePhosphatidylinositol PhosphatesVesicular Transport Proteins

Identifiers

PMID42816491
PMCPMC13627691

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.