Component of the C9orf72-SMCR8 complex, a complex that has guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activity and regulates autophagy (PubMed:20562859, PubMed:27103069, PubMed:27193190, PubMed:27559131, PubMed:27617292, PubMed:28195531, PubMed:32303654). In the complex, C9orf72 and SMCR8 probably constitute the catalytic subunits that promote the exchange of GDP to GTP, converting inactive GDP-bound RAB8A and RAB39B into their active GTP-bound form, thereby promoting autophagosome maturation (PubMed:20562859, PubMed:27103069, PubMed:27617292, PubMed:28195531). The C9orf72-SMCR8 complex also acts as a negative regulator of autophagy initiation by interacting with the ULK1/ATG1 kinase complex and inhibiting its protein kinase activity (PubMed:27617292, PubMed:28195531). As part of the C9orf72-SMCR8 complex, stimulates RAB8A and RAB11A GTPase activity in vitro (PubMed:32303654). Acts as a regulator of mTORC1 signaling by promoting phosphorylation of mTORC1 substrates (PubMed:27559131, PubMed:28195531). In addition to its activity in the cytoplasm within the C9orf72-SMCR8 complex, SMCR8 also localizes in the nucleus, where it associates with chromatin and negatively regulates expression of suppresses ULK1 and WIPI2 genes (PubMed:28195531).
