| Tectonin β-propeller repeat protein (TECPR1) was first identified as DKFZP434B0335, a human ortholog of the yeast protein Pex23p. TECPR1 contains a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, β-propeller domain, and dysferlin domains. Research studies have shown that elevated expression of TECPR1 may be a potential marker for prostate cancer (2). In several independent studies, TECPR1 was shown to play a role in autophagy through interaction with Atg5. Atg5 is a protein that is conjugated to the ubiquitin-like protein Atg12 and plays an essential role in autophagy. Initial studies suggested that TECPR1 plays a role in selective autophagy processes by targeting bacterial pathogens, as well as damaged mitochondria and protein aggregates. TECPR1 appears to be important for autophagosome maturation and promotes autophagosome fusion with the lysosome. Deletion of TECPR1 leads to an accumulation of autophagosomes. |
