Which LC3 antibody should I choose for my samples?

LC3 exists as three highly homologous isoforms or paralogs. These are LC3A, LC3B, and LC3C. These LC3 paralogs have different patterns of expression in human tissues [see He, H et al. (2003) J Biol Chem 278(31), 29278-87 (PMID 12740394 Figure 2A; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12740394)] and undergo post-translational modifications during autophagy. Cleavage of LC3 (i.e., LC3A, LC3B, and/or LC3C) at the carboxy terminus immediately following synthesis yields the cytosolic LC3-I form. During autophagy, LC3-I is converted to LC3-II through lipidation by a ubiquitin-like system involving Atg7 and Atg3 that allows for LC3 to become associated with autophagic vesicles. The presence of LC3 in autophagosomes and the conversion of LC3 to the lower migrating form LC3-II are used as markers of autophagy.

Last updated: February 27, 2024