Calcium-binding and coiled-coil domain-containing protein 2 (CALCOCO2)

Xenophagy-specific receptor required for autophagy- mediated intracellular bacteria degradation. Acts as an effector protein of galectin-sensed tissue damage which limits the proliferation of infecting pathogens such as Salmonella typhimurium upon entry into the cytosol by targeting LGALS8- associated bacteria for autophagy (PubMed:22246324).

Originally orchestrates bacteria targeting to autophagosomes and then ensures pathogen degradation by modulating pathogen-containing autophagosome maturation (PubMed:23022382, PubMed:25771791). Bacteria targeting to autophagosomes relies on its interaction with MAP1LC3A, MAP1LC3B or GABARAPL2, whereas regulation of pathogen-containing autophagosome maturation requires the interaction with MAP3LC3C (PubMed:23022382, PubMed:25771791).