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. 2013 Apr 11;9(7):951–972. doi: 10.4161/auto.24273

Table 2.Atg knockout and conditional knockout mouse phenotypes.

Gene Genotype Phenotype Ref.
ULK1 complex
Ulk1
ulk1-/-
Viable; no developmental defects or impairment to starvation-induced autophagy; delayed mitochondria elimination from reticulocytes
168
Ulk2
ulk2-/-
Viable; no overt phenotype/fertility defects
169
ulk1-/-; ulk2-/-
Neonatal lethal; impaired response to amino acid deprivation
Rb1cc1
rb1cc1-/-
Embryonic lethal at E14.5-15.5; excessive liver and cardiac apoptosis; thin left ventricular wall, lacking trabeculation
170-172
Tek-Cre; Rb1cc1fl/fl
Perinatal lethal; severe erythroblastic anemia; 6-fold decrease in HSCs; increased number of myeloid cells in liver
173-175
Atg13
 
Currently no KO mouse
 
C12orf44
 
Currently no KO mouse
PtdIns3K complex
Ambra1
ambra1-/-
Non-viable; embryos show neural tube defects, spina bifida at E10-E14.5, accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins, and increased apoptosis in various tissues
177
Becn1
becn1-/-
Embryonic lethal at E7.5; failure to close pro-amniotic canal
183
Becn1+/-
Increased tumor incidence in various tissues
184
becn1-/-; rag1-/-
Reduced levels of early marrow-derived thymocytes and B cells
185
PtdIns3k
Meox1-Cre; Pik3c3fl/fl
Embryonic lethal at E7.5; embryos fail to form recognizable mesoderm
187
Alb-Cre; Pik3c3fl/fl
Smaller adult mice; enlarged, pale liver. In hepatocytes: Reduced levels of autophagy nucleation complex; arrested autophagic flux; increased intracellular lipid droplet formation; reduced size of mitochondria
188
Ckm-Cre; Pik3c3fl/fl
Lethal between 5-13 weeks; Cardiomegaly with increased thickness of left ventricular wall, decreased cardiac contractility/reduced cardiac output; arrested autophagic flux; Reduced size of mitochondria
188
Uvrag
 
Currently no KO mouse
ATG9 complex
Atg9a
atg9a-/-
Neonatal lethal during perinatal starvation
191
Atg9b
 
Currently no KO mouse
ATG12 conjugation and LC3 lipidation
Atg3
atg3-/-
Neonatal lethal at P1; many cells contain small ATG16L1-positive structures and scattered phagophores
192
Atg4a
 
Currently no KO mouse
Atg4b
atg4b-/-
Viable; inner ear developmental defects and associated defects in balance/coordination
194
Atg4c
atg4c-/-
Viable; no overt phenotype/fertility defects; decreased starvation-induced autophagy in diaphragm
194
Atg4d
 
Currently no KO mouse
 
Atg16l1
atg16l1-/-
Neonatal lethal during perinatal starvation; induced expression of IL1B
195
Atg5
atg5-/-
Neonatal lethal during perinatal starvation
199
Nes-Cre; Atg5fl/fl
Viable; neurological defects appear after 3 weeks of age: growth retardation, ataxia, poor motor coordination, failed clasping response; increased accumulations of ubiquinated proteins; abundant neurodegeneration of cerebellar Purkinje cells
202
Pcp-Cre; Atg5fl/fl
Viable; neurological defects appear after 10 months of age
203
Atg7
atg7-/-
Neonatal lethal during perinatal starvation
199
Nes-Cre; Atg7fl/fl
Lethal by 28 weeks of age; abundant neurodegeneration /neuron death in cerebrum and cerebellum, ubiquitinated protein accumulations in remaining neurons; motor and clasping defects
205
Slc6a3-Cre; Atg7fl/fl
Viable; 40% reduction of dopaminergic neurons and 55% reduction in dopamine; ubiquitinated protein accumulations in remaining neurons
207
En1-Cre; Atg7fl/fl
Viable; 60% reduction of dopaminergic neurons and 65% reduction in dopamine; ubiquitinated protein accumulations in remaining neurons; taxic gait
207
Thtm1(cre)Te-Cre; Atg7fl/fl
Viable; 40% reduction of dopaminergic neurons; accumulation of SNCA protein
208
Camkk2-Cre;Atg7fl/fl
Viable; spontaneous tremors in 75% of mice by 6-7 weeks of age
210
Alb-Cre; Atg7fl/fl
Viable; enlarged hepatocytes; hepatomegaly; accumulation of peroxisomes and mitochondria
211
Rip-Cre; Atg7fl/fl
Viable; hypoinsulinemia and hyperglycemia; reduced number of insulin granules; swelling of mitochondria, rough ER, Golgi
212
Lc3b
lc3b-/-
Viable; no overt phenotype/fertility defects
214
Gabarap
gabarap-/-
Viable; no overt phenotype/fertility defects
215
Autophagy-modifying models
Sqstm1
sqstm1-/-
Alzheimer-like phenotype; accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins in neurons and various tissues
221
Park2
park2-/-
40% increase in fatalities from induced myocardial infarction due to mitophagy defect
224
Mfn2 mfn2-/- (cardiac specific) Increased sensitivity to ischemia and late onset cardiac dysfunction 228