**Background of ATG3 Antibody**
ATG3 (Autophagy-related protein 3) is a key enzyme in the autophagy pathway, a conserved cellular process critical for degrading damaged organelles, proteins, and pathogens. ATG3 functions as an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, facilitating the conjugation of LC3 (Microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3) to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) during autophagosome formation—a step essential for autophagosome membrane expansion and cargo sequestration.
Antibodies targeting ATG3 are vital tools in autophagy research, enabling the detection and quantification of ATG3 protein levels in cells or tissues. They are widely used in techniques like Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence to study autophagy dynamics under various conditions, such as nutrient deprivation, stress, or disease states. Researchers also employ these antibodies to investigate ATG3’s interaction partners, post-translational modifications, and regulatory mechanisms.
Dysregulation of ATG3 has been implicated in diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s), and infectious diseases, as autophagy plays dual roles in promoting cell survival or death depending on context. ATG3 antibodies thus aid in exploring its therapeutic potential as a biomarker or drug target. Commercial ATG3 antibodies are typically validated for specificity across species (human, mouse, rat) and are essential for advancing both basic and translational studies in autophagy biology.
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