The Autophagy-related genes (Atg), characterized extensively in yeast, are a set of approximately twenty evolutionarily conserved genes required for autophagy. Autophagy (specifically, macroautophagy) is the process of bulk degradation of cytoplasmic material. It takes place by the assembly of a double membrane vesicle, the autophagosome, which delivers cargo to the lysosome for recycling. (Adapted from FBrf0219844 and FBrf020902).