VCP/p97 UFMylation stabilizes BECN1 and facilitates the initiation of autophagy.

Macroautophagy/autophagy is essential for the degradation and recycling of cytoplasmic materials. The initiation of this process is determined by phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PtdIns3K) complex, which is regulated by factor BECN1 (beclin 1). UFMylation is a novel ubiquitin-like modification that has been demonstrated to modulate several cellular activities.

The phase variation between wrinkly and smooth colony phenotype affects the virulence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus, the causative agent of seafood-associated gastroenteritis, undergoes wrinkly and smooth colony switching on the plate. The wrinkly spreader grew faster, had stronger motility and biofilm capacity when compared with the smooth one. However, whether the two phenotypes differ in their virulence still needs to be further investigated.