Interestingly, mammalian WIPI proteins are also involved in the pathogenesis of age-related human diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders [28], implying that the function of ATG-18 is evolutionarily conserved from C. elegans to humans, which highlights the importance of understanding the mechanisms by which ATG-18/WIPI proteins regulate the aging process. The gene discussed is WIPI1; the disease is glycogen storage disease VI.