Signalling through v‐akt murine thymoma viral oncogene (AKT) regulates mechanistic target of rapamycin (serine/threonine kinase) complex 1 (MTORC1) activity and downstream of MTORC1, unc‐51 like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1) activity, thereby regulating autophagy initiation.60, 61 Inhibitory MTORC1‐mediated ULK1 phosphorylation is decreased in limb muscles of COPD patients compared with controls,45 which may implicate an increase in autophagic flux induction. The gene discussed is ULK1; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.