Endoplasmic reticulum-anchored autophagy receptor that mediates ER delivery into lysosomes through sequestration into autophagosomes (PubMed:26040720). Promotes membrane remodeling and ER scission via its membrane bending capacity and targets the fragments into autophagosomes via interaction with ATG8 family proteins (PubMed:26040720). Required for long-term survival of nociceptive and autonomic ganglion neurons (PubMed:19838196, PubMed:26040720). Interacts with ATG8 family modifier proteins MAP1LC3A, MAP1LC3B, GABARAP, GABARAPL1 and GABARAPL2. Predominantly expressed in sensory and autonomic ganglia has demonstrated by in situ hybridizations of embryonic day 14.5 mouse embryo sections. Detected specifically in organelle-like intracellular structures of the small and large neurons of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and in Neuro-2a cells, a tumor cell line that is related to autonomic ganglion neurons (at protein level). The LIR motif interacts with ATG8 family proteins and is necessary to target the ER fragments to autophagosomes for lysosomal degradation. The reticulon homology domain provides capacity to bend the membrane and promotes ER scission (PubMed:26040720). This domain does not show relevant similarities with reticulon domains, preventing any domain predictions within the protein sequence. Leads to an expanded endoplasmic reticulum. Predicted by similarity to human,. Belongs to the RETREG family.