Functional role of TP53INP2 in autophagy. TP53INP2 interacts with LC3 in the nucleus. Upon autophagy induction, TP53INP2 translocates from the nucleus to the cytosol together with LC3. In the cytosol, TP53INP2 also interacts with other Atg8 family members such as GATE 16, and promotes autophagosome formation. Upon closure, TP53INP2 leaves the autophagosome before the fusion with the lysosome. Under insulin-resistant conditions, TP53INP2 gene expression is repressed, which permits to downregulate an excessive autophagy