VPS18
Description
The VPS18 (VPS18 core subunit of CORVET and HOPS complexes) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 15.
VPS18, also known as Vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 18 homolog, is a protein encoded by the VPS18 gene in humans. It is a crucial player in the process of vesicle-mediated protein sorting, which involves the packaging and transport of molecules within cells. VPS18 is a human homolog of the yeast Vps18 protein, belonging to the class C Vps proteins that are primarily found on late endosomes and lysosomes. These proteins are believed to regulate the movement of vesicles, small membrane-bound compartments, within the endosome/lysosome pathway. VPS18 has been shown to interact with VPS11 and STX7, suggesting its involvement in protein complex formation and interaction networks that govern vesicle transport.
VPS18 plays a crucial role in the movement of proteins within cells, particularly those destined for lysosomes. It acts as a central component of two important protein complexes, HOPS and CORVET, both involved in the regulation of endosomes, the cellular compartments responsible for sorting and recycling proteins. The HOPS complex, containing VPS18, is thought to be involved in the transition from early to late endosomes, by controlling the movement of late endosomes, phagocytic material, and autophagosomes towards lysosomes. The CORVET complex, also containing VPS18, aids in the merging of early endosomes, specifically in certain subpopulations. Furthermore, VPS18 is essential for the merging of endosomes and autophagosomes with lysosomes, contributing to the proper degradation of cellular components. In addition, VPS18 appears to play a role in the development of dendrites in Purkinje cells, specialized nerve cells in the brain.
VPS18 is also known as PEP3.
