This gene encodes a subunit of the cytoplasmic coatamer protein complex, which is involved in autophagy and intracellular protein trafficking. The coatomer protein complex is comprised of seven subunits and functions as the coat protein of coat protein complex (COP)I-vesicles. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Nov 2012],function:The coatomer is a cytosolic protein complex that binds to dilysine motifs and reversibly associates with Golgi non-clathrin-coated vesicles, which further mediate biosynthetic protein transport from the ER, via the Golgi up to the trans Golgi network. Coatomer complex is required for budding from Golgi membranes, and is essential for the retrograde Golgi-to-ER transport of dilysine-tagged proteins. In mammals, the coatomer can only be recruited by membranes associated to ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs), which are small GTP-binding proteins; the complex also influences the Golgi structural integrity, as well as the processing, activity, and endocytic recycling of LDL receptors.,function:The zeta subunit may be involved in regulating the coat assembly and, hence, the rate of biosynthetic protein transport due to its association-dissociation properties with the coatomer complex.,PTM:Phosphorylated upon DNA damage, probably by ATM or ATR.,similarity:Belongs to the adaptor complexes small subunit family.,subcellular location:The coatomer is cytoplasmic or polymerized on the cytoplasmic side of the Golgi, as well as on the vesicles/buds originating from it.,subunit:Oligomeric complex that consists of at least the alpha, beta, beta’, gamma, delta, epsilon and zeta subunits.,