WDFY3 was identified in a screen for phosphatidylinositol 3 phosphate binding proteins. The FYVE domain is a zinc binding domain found in many PtdIns binding proteins and is proposed to target proteins to membrane lipids. WDFY3 has been shown localized to the nuclear membrane and within autophagic membranes and it is proposed to function as a link between protein aggregates and the autophagic machinery. WDFY3 is also known as autophagy linked FYVE protein.