microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B light chain 3A (MAP1A/MAP1B LC3 A, MAP1A/1B light chain 3 A, MAP1 light chain 3-like protein 1, autophagy-related protein LC3 A, autophagy-related ubiquitin-like modifier LC3 A, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha, microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B light chain 3, MAP1LC3A, MAP1ALC3)

Function

• role in formation of autophagosomal vacuoles (autophagosomes)
• one of 3 different subunits that associates with MAP1A & MAP1B
• the precursor molecule is cleaved by APG4B/ATG4B to form the cytosolic form, MAP1LC3A-I
• this is activated by APG7L/ATG7, transferred to ATG3 & conjugated to phospholipid to form the membrane-bound form, MAP1LC3A-II

Structure

belongs to the MAP1 LC3 family

Compartment

• cytoplasm, intracytoplasmic membrane; lipid-anchor
• cytoplasmic vesicle, autophagosome membrane, lipid-anchor
• MAP1LC3A-II binds to the autophagic membranes

Alternative splicing

named isoforms=2

Expression

• most abundant in heart, brain, liver, skeletal muscle & testis
• absent in thymus & peripheral blood leukocytes

More general terms

• protein subunit

Database

• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/601242
• UniProt: http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q9H492.html