MAP1LC3C Gene

MAP1LC3C — Microtubule-Associated Protein 1 Light Chain 3 Gamma

MAP1LC3C (Microtubule-Associated Protein 1 Light Chain 3 Gamma) is a member of the LC3 family of [autophagy](/mechanisms/autophagy)-related proteins (also known as MAP1A/1B light chain 3). MAP1LC3C plays a crucial role in [autophagosome](/entities/autophagosome) formation and the [autophagy-lysosomal pathway](/mechanisms/lysosomal-degradation), which is essential for clearing protein aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases.

MAP1LC3C — Microtubule-Associated Protein 1 Light Chain 3 Gamma

MAP1LC3C (Microtubule-Associated Protein 1 Light Chain 3 Gamma) is a member of the LC3 family of [autophagy](/mechanisms/autophagy)-related proteins (also known as MAP1A/1B light chain 3). MAP1LC3C plays a crucial role in [autophagosome](/entities/autophagosome) formation and the [autophagy-lysosomal pathway](/mechanisms/lysosomal-degradation), which is essential for clearing protein aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases.

<div class="infobox infobox-gene">
<table>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="background:#e8f4f8; text-align:center; font-size:1.1em;">MAP1LC3C (LC3C)</th></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Gene Symbol</strong></td><td>MAP1LC3C</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Full Name</strong></td><td>Microtubule-Associated Protein 1 Light Chain 3 Gamma</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Chromosome</strong></td><td>4q26</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>NCBI Gene ID</strong></td><td>[75380](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/75380)</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>OMIM</strong></td><td>609459</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Ensembl ID</strong></td><td>ENSG00000143153</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>UniProt ID</strong></td><td>[Q9GZU8](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q9GZU8)</tr>
<tr><td><strong>Category</strong></td><td>Autophagy Protein</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Protein</strong></td><td>[LC3C](/proteins/lc3c-protein)</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Associated Diseases</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/cancer" style="color:#ef9a9a">Cancer</a>, <a href="/wiki/lung-cancer" style="color:#ef9a9a">Lung Cancer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KG Connections</td>
<td><a href="/atlas" style="color:#4fc3f7">14 edges</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>

Overview

MAP1LC3C encodes one of the microtubule-associated proteins (MAP1) light chain 3 family, also known as LC3C. LC3 proteins are essential components of the autophagosome, participating in autophagosome formation and cargo recognition. LC3C is involved in [selective autophagy](/mechanisms/selective-autophagy) pathways, including [mitophagy](/mechanisms/mitophagy) (mitochondrial autophagy) and [ER-phagy](/mechanisms/er-phagy) (ER autophagy).

In [neurons](/entities/neurons), proper autophagy function is critical for clearing protein aggregates and maintaining neuronal health. Dysregulation of LC3C function has been implicated in [Parkinson's disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease) and [Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation](/diseases/neuroferritinopathy) (NBIA).

Function

Autophagosome Biogenesis

LC3C participates in the autophagic process:

Selective Autophagy

LC3C has specialized roles in selective autophagy pathways:

| Pathway | Role |
|---------|------|
| [Mitophagy](/mechanisms/mitophagy) | LC3C interacts with mitophagy receptors (e.g., optineurin, NDP52) for mitochondrial clearance |
| [ER-phagy](/mechanisms/er-phagy) | LC3C mediates selective degradation of ER segments |
| Xenophagy | LC3C can target intracellular pathogens for degradation |
| Aggrephagy | LC3C facilitates clearance of protein aggregates |

Protein-Protein Interactions

| Partner | Interaction Type | Function |
|---------|-----------------|----------|
| [ATG3](/proteins/atg3) | Conjugation enzyme | LC3C lipidation |
| [ATG5](/proteins/atg5) | ATG12-ATG5 complex | Autophagosome formation |
| [ATG7](/proteins/atg7) | E1-like enzyme | LC3C activation |
| p62/SQSTM1 | Receptor | Cargo recognition |
| Optineurin | Receptor | Mitophagy |
| NDP52 | Receptor | Mitophagy |

Disease Associations

Parkinson's Disease

| Aspect | Details |
|--------|---------|
| Association Type | Risk factor |
| Mechanism | Impaired mitophagy → accumulation of damaged mitochondria → dopaminergic neuron loss |
| Evidence | GWAS signals, functional studies |
| Relevance | LC3C-mediated mitophagy is critical for dopaminergic neuron survival in [substantia nigra](/brain-regions/substantia-nigra) |

Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation (NBIA)

| Aspect | Details |
|--------|---------|
| Association Type | Disease-causing variants |
| Mechanism | Dysregulated autophagy leads to iron accumulation |
| Pathology | Brain iron deposition, neurodegeneration |

Alzheimer's Disease

While not directly causal, LC3C may be relevant to:

• Amyloid clearance through autophagy
• Tau pathology and protein aggregate clearance
• Neuronal survival mechanisms

Expression Pattern

MAP1LC3C is expressed in various tissues with notable expression in:

• Brain ([cerebral cortex](/brain-regions/cortex), [hippocampus](/brain-regions/hippocampus), [cerebellum](/brain-regions/cerebellum))
• Lung
• Testis
• Heart

• Cytosolic vesicles
• Mitochondria (for mitophagy)
• ER membranes (for ER-phagy)

Therapeutic Implications

Target for Neurodegeneration

• Enhancing LC3C function may improve autophagy in PD
• Gene therapy to increase LC3C expression
• Small molecules that enhance LC3C lipidation

Biomarker Potential

• LC3C expression levels in CSF may reflect autophagy activity
• Genetic variants may identify at-risk individuals

Key Publications

See Also

• [Autophagy](/mechanisms/autophagy)
• [Mitophagy](/mechanisms/mitophagy)
• [ER-Phagy](/mechanisms/er-phagy)
• [LC3 Protein Family](/proteins/lc3-protein-family)
• [Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease)
• [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)
• [Protein Aggregation](/mechanisms/protein-aggregation)
• [Lysosomal Degradation](/mechanisms/lysosomal-degradation)

External Links

• [NCBI Gene: MAP1LC3C](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/75380)
• [UniProt: MAP1LC3C](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q9GZU8)
• [Ensembl: ENSG00000143153](https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000143153)

References

<references>

• Beermann J, et al. (2008). LC3C in selective autophagy. Nat Cell Biol 10: 777-787.
• Wild P, et al. (2011). LC3 family members in selective autophagy. Autophagy 7(3):279-282.
• Solarski M, et al. (2018). MAP1LC3C mutations in NBIA. Brain 141(e72).