retromer complex

thumb|300px|Model of the retromer heteropentameric complex (VPS26A|VPS26 in green; [[VPS35 in orange, and VPS29 in red). The retromer forms a polymeric network arc on the outside (cytoplasmic side) of the endosome tubule. Inside the tubule, the cargo receptor SORL1, forms its own network and binds protein cargo for trafficking. SORL1 connects to retromer on the outside via a transmembrane helix and a short C-terminal tail that binds VPS26. Model built based on structural data by Brett Collins and Yu Kitago.]] Retromer is a complex of proteins that has been shown to be important in recycling transmembrane receptors from endosomes to the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and directly back to the plasma membrane. Mutations in retromer and its associated proteins have been linked to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Retromer is a heteropentameric complex, which in humans is composed of a less defined membrane-associated sorting nexin dimer (SNX1, SNX2, SNX5, SNX6), and a vacuolar protein sorting (Vps) heterotrimer containing Vps26, Vps29, and Vps35. Although the SNX dimer is required for the recruitment of retromer to the endosomal membrane, the cargo binding function of this complex is contributed by the core heterotrimer through the binding of Vps26 and Vps35 subunits to various cargo molecules including M6PR, wntless, SORL1 (which is also a receptor for other cargo proteins such as APP), and sortilin. Early study on sorting of acid hydrolases such as carboxypeptidase Y (CPY) in S. cerevisiae mutants has led to the identification of retromer in mediating the retrograde trafficking of the pro-CPY receptor (Vps10) from the endosomes to the TGN. Age-related loss of OXR1 causes retromer decline.