Component of the autophagy machinery that controls the major intracellular degradation process by which cytoplasmic materials are packaged into autophagosomes and delivered to lysosomes for degradation (, ). Binds phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns3P) . Activated by the STK11/AMPK signaling pathway upon starvation, WDR45 is involved in autophagosome assembly downstream of WIPI2, regulating the size of forming autophagosomes . Together with WIPI1, promotes ATG2 (ATG2A or ATG2B)-mediated lipid transfer by enhancing ATG2-association with phosphatidylinositol 3-monophosphate (PI3P)-containing membranes . Probably recruited to membranes through its PtdIns3P activity .
Subcellular locations: Preautophagosomal structure, Cytoplasm
Diffusely localized in the cytoplasm under nutrient-rich conditions. Localizes to autophagic structures during starvation-induced autophagy.
Ubiquitously expressed, with high expression in skeletal muscle and heart. Weakly expressed in liver and placenta. Expression is down-regulated in pancreatic and in kidney tumors.