Table 1.

Comparison of basal LC3b turnover in different mouse organs

Organ	LC3b-II in LE fraction (PBS) [ng/mg total protein]	LC3b-II in LE fraction (Leupeptin) [ng/mg total protein]	LC3b-II flux (Difference in LC3b-II between leupeptin and PBS treated mice)
Liver	26.9 ± 3.8	69.1 ± 24.7 (0.041)	42.1 ± 24.7
Heart	42.9 ± 7.9	57.7 ± 6.4 (0.032)	14.8 ± 6.4
Lung	22.0 ± 3.2	36.4 ± 8.5 (0.024)	14.4 ± 8.5
Kidney	20.2 ± 4.8	33.5 ± 4.9 (0.001)	13.3 ± 4.9
Spleen	26.1 ± 6.2	37.1 ± 8.9 (0.220)	11.0 ± 8.9

Mice (n = 4 per group) were injected with PBS or 40 mg/kg leupeptin and sacrificed 60 minutes later. LE fractions were prepared from the indicated organs as described in Materials and Methods and analyzed via western blot analysis for LC3b. LC3b-II content was quantified from densitometric analysis of western blots (Fig. 4A), using a standard curve of GST-LC3b protein run alongside for extrapolation. Values represent mean LC3b-II content normalized to total protein ±1 SD. p-values (parentheses) were generated using the Student's 2-Tailed t-test comparing LC3b-II levels in leupeptin-treated versus PBS-treated animals. Values for LC3b-II flux were generated by subtracting the LC3b-II content in leupeptin-treated animals from the mean value for PBS-treated animals.