LC3 (microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3)

LC3 (microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3) is a protein involved in the process of autophagy, where cells recycle and remove damaged components. It plays a key role by attaching to parts of the cell’s waste disposal system called autophagosomes—the structures that engulf and deliver debris to be broken down. Researchers often study LC3 to understand how cells maintain health and respond to stress, and it serves as a marker to measure autophagy activity. Proper regulation of LC3 is crucial for cell maintenance, and its dysfunction is linked to diseases like neurodegeneration and cancer.