Potent, selective, cell-permeable and irreversible inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3Ks) (IC50 2-4 nM). Class III PI3K complex I, consisting of VPS34, Beclin-1, AMBRA1, p150 and ATG14L, facilitates the recruitment of certain Atg components to the phagophores during autophagosome formation whereas autophagosome maturation to the autolysosome requires Class III PI3K complex II, including UVRAG and BIF1.
Wortmannin acts as an early stage autophagy inhibitor by inhibiting PI3K / VPS34 mediated autophagosome formation.
