Background:
VMP1 (Vacuole membrane protein 1), is a 406 amino acid multi-pass membrane protein that localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum-golgi intermediate compartment membrane. Stress-induced protein that, when overexpressed, promotes formation of intracellular vacuoles followed by cell death. May be involved in the cytoplasmic vacuolization of acinar cells during the early stage of acute pancreatitis. Plays a role in the initial stages of the autophagic process through its interaction with BECN1 (By similarity). Involved in cell-cell adhesion.