The
ULK1proteinisaserine/threonineproteinkinasethatplayscriticalroleduringinitialstagesofautophagywhichisavitalresponsetonutrientstarvation.TheconservedC-terminaldomain(CTD)ofULK1controlstheregulatoryfunctionandlocalizationoftheprotein.KnockdownofULK1inhibitstheautophagicresponseaswellasinhibitingrapamycin-inducedautophagyconsistentwitharoledownstreamofmTOR.ULK1formsacomplexwithFIP200andATG13andthiscomplexisessentialforstarvation-inducedautophagy.BothFIP200andATG13arecriticalforcorrectlocalizationofULK1tothepre-autophagosomeandst
ABIlityofULK1protein.ULK1isphosphorylatedbythemTORpathwayinanutrientstarvation-regulatedmanner.