Thanks to all the authors for their hard work! This work was done by @mpi_nat. We thank @CompBioPhys and Urlaub laboratory for their help, and @dfg_public and @maxplanckpress for funding. Check it out for many more surprises!

Feedforward auto-activation: activated ATG101 subsequently quickly activates non-activated ATG101 molecules to create a positive feedforward reaction and supports the local fast assembly of a key complex in autophagy initiation.

Memory of activation: hysteresis causes ATG101 to ‘remember’ its activation for many hours after dephosphorylation due to the very slow, but spontaneous back-conversion to the default fold.

Auto-activation: this work proposes an unusual regulatory mechanism where UKL1 kinase initiates an ATG101 auto activation cascade. ULK1 kinase activity dramatically accelerates an extremely slow assembly upon aiding a change in the fold of ATG101.

In this manuscript, we revisit the question “how is autophagy initiated at the right place and time?”. What started as a relatively straightforward search for the rate-limiting regulatory step, resulted in the discovery of a unique mechanism of regulated protein metamorphosis.

This was a wild ride! https://t.co/22ald0bP16 see thread below 🧵👇 1/6

Influence of ULK1 activity on the memory of ATG101 auto-activation dynamics https://t.co/bv0yoyzZLs #biorxiv_biochem

Influence of ULK1 activity on the memory of ATG101 auto-activation dynamics https://t.co/hBoHEUumKm

Waiting for you @StorkLab in spectacular Sorrento... I've had worse views while reading literature in preparation. #EMBOautophagy24

Heading to Sorrento😊, #EMBOautophagy24

Do not forget to apply!

Place to be for scientists studying quality control mechanisms in life processes. Impressive line-up of speakers. Thx to @HMWK_Hessen @EnableFrankfurt and @dfg_public @SFB1177. Students and postdocs are invited to apply for selected talks👍🤗 @goetheuni #ubiquitin #autophagy

PhD or postdoc position in biochemistry, biophysics & structural biology @FaesenLab! Join the project focusing on the reconstitution and structural-functional characterization of newly identified and purified macromolecular super-complexes. 👇 https://t.co/CcCihxIcNR

Link for ad:

We are recruiting new labmembers @mpi_nat for DFG funded projects! #Biochemistry, #biophysics and #structuralbiology on metamorphic proteins and new autophagy initiation super-complexes. #PhDposition #Postdocposition #proteins #sciencejobs Details:

#PhD, #DnD(?) & #postdoc positions in “theory and methods for non-equilibrium atomistic simulations of complex #biomolecules” – Interested in theoretical and computational #biophysics? Check out the #JobAlert & apply here ⬇️: Shares welcome! #hiring #job https://t.co/ZJF97wtVnJ

🤔Ever wonder why Atg8 has a C-terminal overhang that is always cleaved? Why conserve it? In this mini piece on @JMolBiol Saskia dives into these questions. Thanks to @AutophagyAarhus and Prof. Hofmann for the collaboration! https://t.co/EE57ujWjmc

Model of the regulation of autophagosome biogenesis by AMPK. @BarnabaCarlo, @DavidGBroadbent, @jenscs83 et al. clarify AMPKs regulatory role in #autophagy and highlight its potential as a therapeutic target to reduce autophagy. https://t.co/P07X43bCNf #CellMetabolism #Cancer

I am excited to share updated information. FINALLY, our paper has been published in eLife! What happens in autophagosomal maturation? We revealed that autophagosomal membranes become negatively charged by PI4P enrichment during maturation. https://t.co/6xld6TZm20

Eat less to live longer? #Autophagy degrades damaged or toxic cellular material to keep cells in good shape. We discovered how #ATG16L1 shapes phagophores. Our article was published today in @NatureSMB ! thanks to all the authors !! Check it out: https://t.co/kJddgm4yY1