Fig. 3

MiRNAs inhibit autophagy by down-regulating their target molecules. AMPK and mTORC1 are key modulators of autophagy and exert their effects by regulating ULK1 and ATG13. Activation of the ULK1 complex initiates autophagy and regulates vesicle nucleation through the class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) complex. The final step in the autophagosome formation requires the two ubiquitin-like conjugation systems. AMPK adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase, mTOR mechanistic target of rapamycin, RAPTOR regulatory-associated protein of Mtor, mLST8 MTOR associated protein, LST8 homolog, DEPTOR DEP domain containing MTOR interacting protein, ULK1 unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1, ULK2 unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 2, ATG autophagy-related gene, FIP200 family interacting protein of 200 kD, UVRAG UV radiation resistance-associated gene protein, LC3 microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3, PE phosphatidylethanolamine