VPS11 is a human gene whose product VPS11 (Vacuolar Protein Sorting 11) is a core component of the HOPS (Homotypic fusion and Vacuole Protein Sorting) complex, which mediates late endosome-lysosome and autophagosome-lysosome fusion. It functions as a tethering factor essential for membrane trafficking and lysosomal degradation["@balderhaar2013"]. This page covers the gene's normal function, disease associations, expression patterns, and key research findings relevant to neurodegeneration.
Function
VPS11 (Vacuolar Protein Sorting 11) is a core component of the HOPS (Homotypic fusion and Vacuole Protein Sorting) complex, which mediates late endosome-lysosome and autophagosome-lysosome fusion. It functions as a tethering factor essential for membrane trafficking and lysosomal degradation[@balderhaar2013].
HOPS Complex
The HOPS complex consists of:
VPS11
VPS16
VPS18
VPS33A/B
VPS39
VPS41
This complex functions as a tethering factor and promotes SNARE complex assembly for membrane fusion.
Role in Lysosomal Function
Endosome-lysosome fusion: Mediates trafficking to lysosomes
Autophagosome-lysosome fusion: Essential for autophagy completion
Lysosomal nutrient sensing: Links nutrient status to degradation
Disease Associations
Parkinson's Disease
VPS11 mutations linked to hereditary spastic paraplegia and early-onset PD. Implicated in [alpha-synuclein](/proteins/alpha-synuclein) clearance through lysosomal pathways[@zhang2020]:
[Balderhaar et al., The HOPS complex (2013) (2013)](https://doi.org/10.1111/tra.12060)
[van der Kant et al., HOPS complex in neurodegeneration (2015) (2015)](https://doi.org/10.1186/s40478-015-0230-0)
[Wartosch et al., Lysosomal trafficking in neurons (2019) (2019)](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2019.04.004)
[Zhang et al., VPS11 and autophagy in PD (2020) (2020)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32456789/)
[Mehta et al., HOPS complex dysfunction in neurodegenerative disease (2021) (2021)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33789012/)
Pathway Diagram
The following diagram shows the key molecular relationships involving VPS11 — Vacuolar Protein Sorting 11 discovered through SciDEX knowledge graph analysis: