Membrane localization of LGG-1/GABARAP is dispensable for autophagy in C. elegans .

Most of the functions of LC3/GABARAP in macroautophagy/autophagy are considered to depend on their association with the phagophore membrane through a conjugation to a lipid. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we inhibited the conjugation of LGG-1, the single homolog of GABARAP in C. elegans . Mutants that express only cytosolic forms revealed an essential role for the cleaved form of LGG-1 in autophagy but also in an autophagy-independent embryonic function.