The first member of the FEZ (fasciculation and elongation protein zeta) family identified was unc-76, from C. elegans. The protein is necessary for normal axon fasciculation and is required for axon-axon interactions []. Later, two human homologues, FEZ1 and FEZ2, were identified []. FEZ1 and FEZ2 interact with PKCzeta and have been shown to induce neurite extension of PC12 cells when co-expressed with a constitutively active mutant of PKCzeta [].
This entry represents short coiled-coil protein (SCOC). In human, SCOC is required for autophagosome formation during amino acid starvation. It forms a starvation-sensitive trimeric complex with UVRAG (UV radiation resistance associated gene) and FEZ1 and may regulate ULK1 and Beclin 1 complex activities [].
