VPS13 proteins have been implicated in processes including vesicle fusion, autophagy, and actin regulation. They bind phospholipids and act as channels that mediate the transfer of lipids between membranes at organelle contact sites [2-5]. It has been proposed that members of this entry have the capacity to bind and likely transfer tens of glycerolipids at once. Yeast VPS13 acts at multiple cellular sites, namely the interface between mitochondria and the vacuole, on endosomes, on the nuclear-vacuole junction and the vacuole, depending on the carbon source and metabolic state. VPS13A, VPS13C and VPS13D from mammals localise at contacts at contacts between the ER and other organelles, i.e. VPS13A and VPS13D bridge the ER to mitochondria, VPS13C bridges the ER to late endosomes and lysosomes and VPS13B may localise to endosome-endosome contacts [3-5]. Mutations in human VPS13 proteins cause different diseases such as Chorea-acanthocytosis, Cohen syndrome, Parkinson's disease, and spastic ataxia [1]. ATG2 is involved in autophagosome assembly playing a key role in nonvesicular lipid transfer [6]. This is the N-terminal chorein domain of VPS13 and ATG2 proteins which is highly conserved [2-5]. It has a scoop shape whose concave surface is lined by hydrophobic residues which bind glycerophospholipids [6,7].

1: Brain-specific transcript variants of 5' and 3' ends of mouse VPS13A and VPS13C. Mizuno E, Nakamura M, Agemura A, Kusumoto A, Ichiba M, Kurano Y, Muroya S, Sano A; Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2007;353:902-907. PMID:17196930

2: The GTPase Arf1 Is a Determinant of Yeast Vps13 Localization to the Golgi Apparatus. Kolakowski D, Rzepnikowska W, Kaniak-Golik A, Zoladek T, Kaminska J; Int J Mol Sci. 2021; [Epub ahead of print] PMID:34830155

3: Human VPS13A is associated with multiple organelles and influences mitochondrial morphology and lipid droplet motility. Yeshaw WM, van der Zwaag M, Pinto F, Lahaye LL, Faber AI, Gomez-Sanchez R, Dolga AM, Poland C, Monaco AP, van IJzendoorn SC, Grzeschik NA, Velayos-Baeza A, Sibon OC; Elife. 2019; [Epub ahead of print] PMID:30741634

4: Insights into VPS13 properties and function reveal a new mechanism of eukaryotic lipid transport. Leonzino M, Reinisch KM, De Camilli P; Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids. 2021;1866:159003. PMID:34216812

5: Competitive organelle-specific adaptors recruit Vps13 to membrane contact sites. Bean BDM, Dziurdzik SK, Kolehmainen KL, Fowler CMS, Kwong WK, Grad LI, Davey M, Schluter C, Conibear E; J Cell Biol. 2018;217:3593-3607. PMID:30018089

6: ATG2 transports lipids to promote autophagosome biogenesis. Valverde DP, Yu S, Boggavarapu V, Kumar N, Lees JA, Walz T, Reinisch KM, Melia TJ; J Cell Biol. 2019;218:1787-1798. PMID:30952800

7: A novel superfamily of bridge-like lipid transfer proteins. Neuman SD, Levine TP, Bashirullah A; Trends Cell Biol. 2022;32:962-974. PMID:35491307