Microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3β (MAP1LC3B), also known as LC3B, is an ortholog of yeast Atg8 that is essential to autophagosome biogenesis.1 LC3B is irreversibly cleaved by the cysteine protease ATG4B (Item No. 25380) to its active form LC3B-I, which contains an exposed C-terminal glycine residue needed for autophagosome formation.2,3 LC3B-I is then conjugated to phosphatidylethanolamine in canonical autophagy by the ATG12-ATG5-ATG16 complex to form LC3B-II, which localizes to the autophagosomal membrane.1,4,5,6 Knockdown of LC3B increases the number of ATG5- and ATG16-positive puncta in HeLa cells, indicating a defect in the maturation of autophagosomes.1 LC3B expression is upregulated in various cancers and has disease-specific implications on progression and prognosis.7,8 In metastatic and castration-resistant human prostate cancer tumor samples, LC3B expression is upregulated and is positively correlated with reduced disease-specific mortality.7 Expression of LC3B is also increased in oral squamous cell carcinomas and is associated with aggressive pathological features and poor prognosis.8WARNING This product is not for human or veterinary use.
