LC3 is a central protein in the autophagy pathway where it functions in autophagy substrate selection and autophagosome biogenesis. LC3 is the most widely used marker of autophagosomes. Newly synthesized LC3's C-terminus is hydrolyzed by a cysteine protease called ATG4B exposing Gly120, termed LC3-I. LC3-I, through a series of ubiquitin-like reactions involving enzymes ATG7, ATG3, and ATG12-ATG5-ATG16, becomes conjugated to the head group of the lipid phosphatidylethanolamine. The lipid modified form of LC3, referred to as LC3-II, is believed to be involved in autophagosome membrane expansion and fusion events.
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