May play a role in apoptosis suppression. May promote melanoma cell invasion in vitro. In exponentially growing cells, exclusively cytoplasmic. Cell membrane localization is observed when cells reach confluency and during telophase. In melanoma cells, targeting to the plasma membrane may be impaired by C-terminal phosphorylation. Phosphorylated at Ser-641, Ser-646, Ser-692 and Ser-696 by the BRAF/MKK/ERK signaling cascade. In melanoma cells, the C-terminal phosphorylation may prevent targeting to the plasma membrane. As apoptosis proceeds, degraded via an proteasome-independent pathway, probably by caspases. Belongs to the Niban family.