The vps13 family of lipid transporters and its role at membrane contact sites

Abstract

The conserved VPS13 proteins constitute a new family of lipid transporters at membrane contact sites. These large proteins are suspected to bridge membranes and form a direct channel for lipid transport between organelles. Mutations in the 4 human homologs (VPS13A–D) are associated with a number of neurological disorders, but little is known about their precise functions or the relevant contact sites affected in disease. In contrast, yeast has a single Vps13 protein which is recruited to multiple organelles and contact sites. The yeast model system has proved useful for stud-ying the function of Vps13 at different organelles and identifying the localization determinants re-sponsible for its membrane targeting. In this review we describe recent advances in our understanding of VPS13 proteins with a focus on yeast research.