LC3 (Microtubule-Associated Protein 1 Light Chain 3), also known as MAP1LC3 (Microtubule-Associated Protein 1 Light Chain 3), is a fundamental protein in the autophagy pathway and serves as a key marker for autophagosome formation. LC3 plays critical roles in neurodegenerative diseases, where autophagy dysfunction is a central pathological feature.
| LC3 (Microtubule-Associated Protein 1 Light Chain 3) | |
|---|---|
| Protein Name | Microtubule-Associated Protein 1 Light Chain 3 |
| Gene Symbol | MAP1LC3 (MAP1A, MAP1B) |
| UniProt | [Q9GZF4](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q9GZF4) (LC3A), [Q9GZY8](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q9GZY8) (LC3B) |
| Molecular Weight | ~17 kDa |
| Aliases | LC3, ATG8, Autophagin |
The LC3 family consists of multiple isoforms:
LC3 belongs to the ATG8 family of proteins and undergoes post-translational modifications essential for its function. The protein contains:
The lipidation process converts LC3-I to LC3-II (phosphatidylethanolamine-conjugated form), which is the active form that localizes to autophagosomal membranes.
LC3 is central to the autophagy process:
In Alzheimer disease (AD), autophagy is significantly impaired at multiple stages:
In Parkinson disease (PD), LC3 and autophagy play critical roles:
In ALS, autophagy dysfunction contributes to disease progression:
Targeting the autophagy pathway via LC3 modulation represents a therapeutic strategy:
LC3 interacts with numerous proteins:
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