Here, we found that ATGL KO significantly aggravated TAC-induced activation of apoptosis and inhibition of autophagy accompanied with increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratios and the protein levels of cleaved caspase-3, p-mTOR, p-ULk1, Atg13 and p62, as well as decreased Atg5 protein levels and LC3II/I ratio (Fig. 3c, Fig. 4a–b). Here, ULK1 is linked to persistent truncus arteriosus.