The PH-like Domain of VPS13 Proteins - a Determinant of Localization to the Golgi Apparatus or to the Plasma Membrane

Mutations in the four human genes VPS13A-D, encoding vacuolar protein sorting 13 (VPS13A-D) proteins, result in developmental or neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding the functioning of VPS13 proteins in physiology and pathology is a hot topic of research. Especially interesting is how VPS13 proteins are localized to specific membrane contact sites and function in lipid transport. Recently, the C-terminal Pleckstrin Homology (PH)-like domains of yeast Vps13 and human VPS13A were found to bind Arf1 GTPase and to phosphoinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. Here, hypotheses on the importance of the dual binding ability of the PH-like domain of VPS13A protein for cell physiology are presented. While yeast Vps13, together with Arf1 GTPase, is important for protein sorting in the Trans Golgi Network (TGN), the localization of VPS13A in TGN is speculated to restrict the binding of VPS13A to the plasma membrane.