Fig. 8: Proposed model for STX18-ATG14 axis regulate lipophagy.

In wild-type cells, STX18 interacts with ATG14 disrupts the interactions of ATG14 with LC3, and subverts the formation of PI3KC3-C1 complex to inhibit lipophagy. In coronavirus infected cells, viral M protein binds STX18 and subverts the STX18-ATG14 interaction to induce lipophagy and degrade the LD-associated anti-viral protein Viperin.