MANF is a neurotrophic factor found mainly in central nervous tissues where it may remain localized to the endoplasmic reticulum and in the Golgi apparatus, or secreted. It has been shown that MANF plays an important role in protecting cells against tunicamycin and thapsigargin-induced cell death. Without MANF, cells become increasingly vulnerable to the aforementioned drugs. Also, MANF is structurally homologous to CDNF.