WDR44
Description
The WDR44 (WD repeat domain 44) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome X.
WDR44 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the WDR44 gene. It is a WD repeat-containing protein that functions as a downstream effector for Rab11, regulating Rab11 intracellular membrane trafficking functions such as endocytic recycling, intracellular ciliogenesis and protein export.
WDR44 acts as a downstream effector for Rab11, controlling its role in intracellular membrane trafficking. This includes processes like endocytic recycling, ciliogenesis within the cell, and protein export. WDR44‘s phosphorylation by ATK1 triggers its binding to Rab11, which in turn activates the recycling of the transferrin receptor back to the cell‘s surface. When bound to Rab11, WDR44 prevents the formation of a complex involved in ciliogenesis, thus inhibiting the movement of components to the forming cilium. WDR44 participates in the export of newly synthesized proteins by connecting the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) with the endosomal tubule. This connection is facilitated by direct interactions with proteins in the ER (VAPA or VAPB) and the endosome (GRAFs). This allows proteins like E-cadherin, MPP14, and CFTR to be transferred through a Rab8-Rab10-Rab11 dependent export pathway.
WDR44 is also known as RAB11BP, RPH11, SYM-4.
