Ubiquitin-like modifier involved in cytoplasm to vacuole transport (Cvt) vesicles and autophagosomes formation (By similarity). With ATG4, mediates the delivery of the vesicles and autophagosomes to the vacuole via the microtubule cytoskeleton (By similarity). Required for selective autophagic degradation of the nucleus (nucleophagy) as well as for mitophagy which contributes to regulate mitochondrial quantity and quality by eliminating the mitochondria to a basal level to fulfill cellular energy requirements and preventing excess ROS production (By similarity). Participates also in membrane fusion events that take place in the early secretory pathway (By similarity). Also involved in endoplasmic reticulum-specific autophagic process and is essential for the survival of cells subjected to severe ER stress (By similarity). The ATG8-PE conjugate mediates tethering between adjacent membranes and stimulates membrane hemifusion, leading to expansion of the autophagosomal membrane during autophagy (By similarity). Moreover not only conjugation, but also subsequent ATG8-PE deconjugation is an important step required to facilitate multiple events during macroautophagy, and especially for efficient autophagosome biogenesis, the assembly of ATG9-containing tubulovesicular clusters into phagophores/autophagosomes, and for the disassembly of PAS-associated ATG components (By similarity). Autophagy is required for proper vegetative growth, asexual/sexual reproduction, and full virulence (PubMed:28894236). Autophagy is particularly involved in the biosynthesis of deoxynivalenol (DON), an important virulence determinant (PubMed:28894236). Conjugation to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) leads to homodimerization (By similarity). Interacts with ATG1, ATG3, ATG4, ATG7 and ATG12 (By similarity). Membrane-associated through a lipid anchor (By similarity). This association needs the 2 ubiquitin-like systems required for cytoplasm to vacuole transport and autophagy (By similarity). Localizes to both the isolation membrane (IM) and the vacuole-isolation membrane contact site (VICS) during IM expansion (By similarity). The IM is a membrane sac generated from the pre-autophagosomal structure that ultimately expands to become a mature autophagosome (By similarity). The C-terminal Glu-117 and Ala-118 residues of ATG8 are removed by ATG4 to expose Gly-116 at the C-terminus (By similarity). This Gly-116 forms then a thioester bond with the 'Cys-550' of ATG7 (E1-like activating enzyme) before being transferred to the 'Cys-244' of ATG3 (the specific E2 conjugating enzyme), in order to be finally amidated with phosphatidylethanolamine (By similarity). This lipid modification anchors ATG8 to membranes and can be reversed by ATG4, releasing soluble ATG8 (By similarity). Significantly decreases the radial growth of colonies under nutrient-rich conditions (PubMed:28894236). Strongly reduces conidiation (PubMed:28894236). Reduces also strongly the production of deoxynivalenol (DON), an important virulence determinant (PubMed:28894236). Belongs to the ATG8 family.