Light chain 3 is proposed to function primarily as a subunit of microtubule associated proteins 1A and 1B and that its expression may regulate microtubule binding activity [1]. Autophagy is generally known as a process involved in the degradation of bulk cytoplasmic components that are non-specifically sequestered into an autophagosome, where they are sequestered into double-membrane vesicles and delivered to the degradative organelle, the lysosome/vacuole, for breakdown and eventual recycling of the resulting macromolecules. The yeast proteins are involved in the autophagosome, and Atg8 binds Atg19, via its N-terminus and the C-terminus of Atg19.

1: Molecular characterization of light chain 3. A microtubule binding subunit of MAP1A and MAP1B. Mann SS, Hammarback JA; J Biol Chem 1994;269:11492-11497. PMID:7908909

2: Processing of ATG8s, ubiquitin-like proteins, and their deconjugation by ATG4s are essential for plant autophagy. Yoshimoto K, Hanaoka H, Sato S, Kato T, Tabata S, Noda T, Ohsumi Y; Plant Cell. 2004;16:2967-2983. PMID:15494556

3: Atg19 mediates a dual interaction cargo sorting mechanism in selective autophagy. Chang CY, Huang WP; Mol Biol Cell. 2007;18:919-929. PMID:17192412