Vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 51 homolog (VPS51)

Acts as part of the GARP complex that is involved in retrograde transport from early and late endosomes into the trans-Golgi network (TGN). The GARP complex is necessary for the maintenance of protein retrieval from endosomes to the TGN, acid hydrolase sorting, lysosome function, endosomal cholesterol traffic and autophagy.

VPS51 participates in retrograde transport of acid hydrolase receptors, likely by encouraging tethering and SNARE-dependent combination of endosome-derived carriers into the TGN (PubMed:20685960). Acts as part of the EARP complex that is involved in endocytic recycling.