NRBF2 plays an essential role in autophagy, the cellular pathway that degrades long-lived proteins and other cytoplasmic contents through lysosomes. NRBF2 binds Atg14L - a Beclin-binding protein - directly via the MIT domain and enhances Atg14L-linked Vps34 kinase (a class III phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase) activity and autophagy induction [2].

1: Nuclear receptor binding factor-2 (NRBF-2), a possible gene activator protein interacting with nuclear hormone receptors. Yasumo H, Masuda N, Furusawa T, Tsukamoto T, Sadano H, Osumi T; Biochim Biophys Acta. 2000;1490:189-197. PMID:10786636

2: NRBF2 regulates autophagy and prevents liver injury by modulating Atg14L-linked phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase III activity. Lu J, He L, Behrends C, Araki M, Araki K, Jun Wang Q, Catanzaro JM, Friedman SL, Zong WX, Fiel MI, Li M, Yue Z; Nat Commun. 2014;5:3920. PMID:24849286