As part of the Ragulator complex it is involved in amino acid sensing and activation of mTORC1, a signaling complex promoting cell growth in response to growth factors, energy levels, and amino acids. Activated by amino acids through a mechanism involving the lysosomal V-ATPase, the Ragulator functions as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor activating the small GTPases Rag. Activated Ragulator and Rag GTPases function as a scaffold recruiting mTORC1 to lysosomes where it is in turn activated. When complexed to BIRC5, interferes with apoptosome assembly, preventing recruitment of pro-caspase-9 to oligomerized APAF1, thereby selectively suppressing apoptosis initiated via the mitochondrial/cytochrome c pathway. Down-regulates hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication.
