BCAS3 microtubule associated cell migration factor (BCSA3, also known as Rudhira in mice) has been shown to be involved in angiogenesis and metastasis, and to be implicated in the development of breast cancer [1,2,3]. BCAS3 plays also a role in regulation of autophagy; it forms a complex with PHAF1 (C16orf70) which associates with the preautophagosomal structure during both non-selective and selective autophagy [2]. This entry represents the C-terminal domain which seems to be important for PHAF1 interactions [2]. This domain is also found in ATG18-like proteins from plants [4].

1: Cloning of BCAS3 (17q23) and BCAS4 (20q13) genes that undergo amplification, overexpression, and fusion in breast cancer. Barlund M, Monni O, Weaver JD, Kauraniemi P, Sauter G, Heiskanen M, Kallioniemi OP, Kallioniemi A; Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 2002;35:311-317. PMID:12378525

2: Mammalian BCAS3 and C16orf70 associate with the phagophore assembly site in response to selective and non-selective autophagy. Kojima W, Yamano K, Kosako H, Imai K, Kikuchi R, Tanaka K, Matsuda N; Autophagy. 2021; [Epub ahead of print] PMID:33499712

3: Rudhira/BCAS3 is a cytoskeletal protein that controls Cdc42 activation and directional cell migration during angiogenesis. Jain M, Bhat GP, Vijayraghavan K, Inamdar MS; Exp Cell Res. 2012;318:753-767. PMID:22300583

4: AtATG18a is required for the formation of autophagosomes during nutrient stress and senescence in Arabidopsis thaliana. Xiong Y, Contento AL, Bassham DC; Plant J. 2005;42:535-546. PMID:15860012