Atg14 (ATG14 autophagy related 14 homolog), also known as BARKOR (beclin 1-associated autophagy-related key regulator) or ATG14L, is a 492 amino acid protein that contains 3 coiled-coil domains in its N-terminal region. Conserved in chimpanzee, canine, bovine, mouse, rat, chicken, zebrafish, fruit fly and mosquito, Atg14 exhibits highest expression in brain and lowest expression in kidney and ovary. Atg14 localizes to isolation membranes of forming autophagosomes, cytoplasm, endoplasmic reticulum and an uncharacterized punctate structure. Necessary for both basal and inducible autophagy, Atg14 plays a role in autophagosome formation and MAP1LC3/LC3 conjugation to phosphatidylethanolamine. Atg14 promotes BECN1 translocation from the trans-Golgi network to autophagosomes, and forms a complex with BECN1, PI 3-kinase p100 and p150. Atg14 does not form complexes with KIAA0226/Rubicon or UVRAG, which forms a mutually exclusive complex with BECN1 through direct competition with Atg14.