 When inactive BNIP3 is activated on the membrane of the mitochondria, they form homodimers where LC3 can bind to the LC3-interacting region (LIR) motif on BNIP3 and facilitates the formation of an autophagosome.Interestingly, when disrupting BNIP3 and LC3 interaction, researchers found that autophagy was reduced but not completely erased.This suggests that BNIP3 is not the only receptor on the mitochondria and ER to promote autophagy.