VPS45
Description
VPS45, also known as Vacuolar Protein Sorting 45, is a crucial gene encoding a protein involved in the intricate process of vesicular trafficking. This process is essential for transporting molecules within cells, ensuring proper cellular function. VPS45 plays a critical role in the formation and movement of vesicles, small membrane-bound sacs that carry cargo within cells. It acts as a scaffold protein, facilitating the assembly of a protein complex known as the retromer, which is responsible for retrieving proteins from endosomes and delivering them back to the Golgi apparatus. This intricate dance of molecular transport is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis and ensuring proper organelle function.
Associated Diseases
- Neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer‘s disease, Parkinson‘s disease)
- Lysosomal storage disorders (e.g., mucolipidosis type IV)
- Cancer
Did you know?
VPS45 is highly conserved across species, suggesting its fundamental importance in cellular function.