Xenophagy-specific receptor required for autophagy-mediated intracellular bacteria degradation. Acts as an effector protein of galectin-sensed membrane damage that restricts the proliferation of infecting pathogens such as Salmonella typhimurium upon entry into the cytosol by targeting LGALS8-associated bacteria for autophagy . Initially orchestrates bacteria targeting to autophagosomes and subsequently ensures pathogen degradation by regulating pathogen-containing autophagosome maturation (, ). Bacteria targeting to autophagosomes relies on its interaction with MAP1LC3A, MAP1LC3B and/or GABARAPL2, whereas regulation of pathogen-containing autophagosome maturation requires the interaction with MAP3LC3C (, ). May play a role in ruffle formation and actin cytoskeleton organization and seems to negatively regulate constitutive secretion .
Subcellular locations: Cytoplasm, Perinuclear region, Cytoplasm, Cytoskeleton, Cytoplasmic vesicle, Autophagosome membrane
According to , localizes to nuclear dots. According to  and , it is not a nuclear dot-associated protein but localizes predominantly in the cytoplasm with a coarse-grained distribution preferentially close to the nucleus.
Expressed in all tissues tested with highest expression in skeletal muscle and lowest in brain.