Activation of autophagy protects against proapoptotic insults in culture and in vivo in neurodegenerative diseases, where subapoptotic caspase activities may enhance diseases through processes that include the cleavage of mutant proteins to increase their toxicities.[58] Prior studies found that the TRIM49 protein plays a role in autophagic protein degradation.[35] Specifically, it can regulate autophagy and target autophagic substrates by direct recognition.[29] However, the exact role of TRIM49 in the ocular function was not clear. Here, TRIM49 is linked to neurodegenerative disease.