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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 19, 2026

Evaluating Autophagy Levels in Two Different Pancreatic Cell Models Using LC3 Immunofluorescence

Evaluating Autophagy Levels in Two Different Pancreatic Cell Models Using LC3 Immunofluorescence

Published on: April 28, 2023

Activated Acinus boosts basal autophagy.

Nilay Nandi¹, Lauren K Tyra¹, Helmut Krämer²

¹Department of Neuroscience; UT Southwestern Medical Center ; Dallas, TX, USA.

Molecular & Cellular Oncology

|June 17, 2016

Summary

Acinus (Acn) protein regulates autophagy, a cellular cleaning process. Activating Acn enhances this process, clearing toxic proteins and potentially extending lifespan by reducing neurodegeneration.

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Last Updated: Mar 19, 2026

Evaluating Autophagy Levels in Two Different Pancreatic Cell Models Using LC3 Immunofluorescence

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Assessing Autophagic Flux by Measuring LC3, p62, and LAMP1 Co-localization Using Multispectral Imaging Flow Cytometry

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siRNA Electroporation to Modulate Autophagy in Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1-Infected Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells

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Published on: October 28, 2019

Area of Science:

Cellular Biology
Molecular Biology
Neuroscience

Background:

Acinus (Acn) is a nuclear protein involved in autophagy regulation.
Autophagy is crucial for cellular quality control and preventing neurodegeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of Acn in regulating autophagy.
To understand how Acn activity impacts cellular health and lifespan.

Main Methods:

Studied the function of Acn in cellular autophagy.
Investigated the mechanisms regulating Acn activity, including phosphorylation and cleavage.

Main Results:

Loss of Acn function inhibits autophagy in starving cells.
Acn activation induces basal autophagy, improving the removal of misfolded proteins.
Akt1-mediated phosphorylation enhances Acn activity, preventing its cleavage by caspase-3.

Conclusions:

Acn is a key positive regulator of autophagy.
Enhanced Acn activity via phosphorylation can reduce neurodegeneration and prolong lifespan.