Fig. 3. HIV/gp120 promotes LC3-I conversion to LC3-II.
Neurons were treated with 5nM gp120 for the indicated times. Total cell lysates in RIPA buffer were analyzed by Western blot on 4–12% NuPAGE SDS gel using monoclonal anti-LC3 antibody. The level of LC3-II was increased relative to LC3-I after 3 hours of treatment (n=3) but LC3-II levels returned to control at 18 hours, suggesting autophagic induction up to 3 hours and an autophagosome clearance at 18 hours.