ULK1 targets Beclin-1 in autophagy

The substrates of mammalian ULK1/2 and its yeast homologue Atg1 in autophagy have remained elusive. The class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase component Beclin-1 has now been identified as a physiological substrate of the ULK kinases in autophagy following amino acid starvation, therefore suggesting a critical molecular link between the upstream kinases and the autophagy core machinery.