Alignment extended from [1]. Highly alpha-helical. The cytosolic endocytic adaptor proteins in fungi carry this domain at the N-terminus; several of these have been referred to as muniscin proteins [2]. These N-terminal BAR, N-BAR, and EFC/F-BAR domains are found in proteins that regulate membrane trafficking events by inducing membrane tubulation. The domain dimerises into a curved structure that binds to liposomes and either senses or induces the curvature of the membrane bilayer to cause biophysical changes to the shape of the bilayer; it also thereby recruits other trafficking factors, such as the GTPase dynamin. Most EFC/F-BAR domain-family members localise to actin-rich structures [3].

1: A Cdc42 target protein with homology to the non-kinase domain of FER has a potential role in regulating the actin cytoskeleton. Aspenstrom P Curr Biol 1997;7:479-487. PMID:9210375

2: Syp1 is a conserved endocytic adaptor that contains domains involved in cargo selection and membrane tubulation. Reider A, Barker SL, Mishra SK, Im YJ, Maldonado-Baez L, Hurley JH, Traub LM, Wendland B; EMBO J. 2009;28:3103-3116. PMID:19713939

3: BAR, F-BAR (EFC) and ENTH/ANTH domains in the regulation of membrane-cytosol interfaces and membrane curvature. Itoh T, De Camilli P; Biochim Biophys Acta. 2006;1761:897-912. PMID:16938488