Acts as a neurotrophic factor in postnatal mature neurons enhancing neuronal survival . Promotes cell proliferation and neurogenesis in undifferentiated neural progenitor cells at the embryonic stage and inhibits differentiation of astrocytes (By similarity). Its neurotrophic activity is exerted via MAPK1/ERK2, MAPK3/ERK1 and AKT1/AKT pathways (By similarity). Neurotrophic activity is enhanced by binding to heme (By similarity). Acts also as an anorexigenic neurotrophic factor that contributes to energy balance (By similarity).
Subcellular locations: Secreted, Extracellular space, Mitochondrion, Endoplasmic reticulum
Localized to mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum by PINK1 and PARK7.
Ubiquitously expressed with high expression in heart. Over-expressed in various tumors including carcinomas of the uterine cervix, lymphoma, colon, lung, skin and leukemia, as well as carcinoma of the breast.