Atg5 also known as APG5 is a crucial component of the autophagy machinery, a fundamental cellular process responsible for degradation and recycling of cytoplasmic components to maintain cellular homeostasis, especially under stress conditions like nutrient starvation. Located primarily in the cytoplasm, Atg5 translocates to the forming autophagosome membrane where Atg5 forms a complex with Atg12 and Atg16L1, facilitating elongation and closure of autophagosomes. This localization is essential for proper formation of autophagosomes, which sequester damaged organelles and proteins for degradation, thereby preventing accumulation of cellular debris and promoting cell survival. Atg5 plays a role in regulation of apoptosis, linking autophagy to programmed cell death pathways and influencing cell fate decisions.