Ubiquitin-like protein involved in autophagy vesicles formation. Conjugation with ATG5 through a ubiquitin-like conjugating system involving also ATG7 as an E1-like activating enzyme and ATG10 as an E2-like conjugating enzyme, is essential for its function. The ATG12-ATG5 conjugate acts as an E3-like enzyme which is required for lipidation of ATG8 family proteins and their association to the vesicle membranes.
(Microbial infection) May act as a proviral factor. In association with ATG5, negatively regulates the innate antiviral immune response by impairing the type I IFN production pathway upon vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection . Required for the translation of incoming hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and, thereby, for the initiation of HCV replication, but not required once infection is established .
Subcellular locations: Cytoplasm, Preautophagosomal structure membrane
TECPR1 recruits the ATG12-ATG5 conjugate to the autolysosomal membrane.
Ubiquitous.