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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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VPS72
vacuolar protein sorting 72 homolog
Chromosome 1 · 1q21.3
NCBI Gene: 6944Ensembl: ENSG00000163159.16HGNC: HGNC:11644UniProt: Q15906
72PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Transcription Factor
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
protein bindinghistone bindinghistone chaperone activitytranscription initiation-coupled chromatin remodelingneurodegenerative diseasepreeclampsiahepatocellular carcinomaneoplasm
✦AI Summary

VPS72 (vacuolar protein sorting 72 homolog) is a histone chaperone that specifically deposits the histone variant H2A.Z into nucleosomes as a component of the SRCAP chr1-remodeling complex 1. This ATP-dependent histone exchange regulates transcription of selected genes through chr1 remodeling [UniProt annotation]. Beyond its canonical chr1 function, VPS72 plays a critical role in nuclear reassembly following mitosis, with VPS72 depletion extending telophase and producing malformed nuclei 1. VPS72 is significantly amplified and overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), where it functions as an oncogenic driver 2. Multiple mechanistic pathways contribute to HCC progression: VPS72 interacts with ACTL6A and MYC to enhance transcription of oncogenic targets 3; promotes de novo lipogenesis through ATF3-mediated repression and mTORC1 activation 4; and activates PI3K/AKT signaling via KAT5 binding 5. Additionally, VPS72 overexpression correlates with reduced CD4+ T cell infiltration and increased M0 macrophage recruitment, suggesting immune suppression 6. VPS72 copy number gains associate with poor prognosis and serve as an independent prognostic factor in HCC 47. Elevated VPS72 expression also promotes prostate cancer progression through NF-κB pathway activation 8. These findings establish VPS72 as a therapeutic target and diagnostic/prognostic biomarker for multiple malignancies.

Sources cited
1
VPS72 deposits H2A.Z histone variant and is required for nuclear reassembly after mitosis
PMID: 32708675
2
VPS72 overexpression enhances HCC progression by interacting with ACTL6A and MYC to promote oncogenic transcription
PMID: 36631007
3
VPS72 copy number gains drive HCC through de novo lipogenesis via ATF3 repression and mTORC1/SREBP1 activation
PMID: 40305746
4
VPS72 is identified as a chromosome 1q driver gene of HCC through in vivo CRISPRa screening, with activation altering phospholipid metabolism
PMID: 39761726
5
VPS72 binding to KAT5 promotes HCC proliferation, invasion and migration through PI3K/AKT signaling
PMID: 35383533
6
VPS72 is significantly overexpressed in HCC and identified as an independent prognostic risk factor
PMID: 37249275
7
VPS72 overexpression correlates with poor prognosis in prostate cancer and promotes cell proliferation and migration
PMID: 38858662
8
High VPS72 expression associates with reduced CD4+ T cell infiltration and increased M0 macrophage recruitment in HCC
PMID: 41580754
Disease Associationsⓘ20
neurodegenerative diseaseOpen Targets
0.53Moderate
preeclampsiaOpen Targets
0.19Weak
hepatocellular carcinomaOpen Targets
0.11Weak
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
melanomaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
posterior cortical atrophyOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
liver cancerOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
cancerOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
chondromalaciaOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
non-alcoholic steatohepatitisOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
prostate cancerOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
dysplastic nevusOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
metastatic melanomaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
colon adenocarcinomaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
infectionOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
breast cancerOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
IGA glomerulonephritisOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
bile duct cancerOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
head and neck malignant neoplasiaOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
Neoplasm of the liverOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
H2BC21Protein interaction100%H2BC11Protein interaction98%SMARCA2Protein interaction98%ACTBProtein interaction95%MYCLProtein interaction94%MSL3Protein interaction93%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Brain
100%
Ovary
52%
Heart
52%
Lung
47%
Liver
34%
Bone Marrow
25%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
VPS72H2BC21H2BC11SMARCA2ACTBMYCLMSL3
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB9INC · 2.01 Å · X-ray
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.91LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.66 [0.49–0.91]
RankingsWhere VPS72 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #6,598of 20,598
    Most Researched72
  • #8,340of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.91
Genes detectedVPS72
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Targeting VPS72 inhibits ACTL6A/MYC axis activity in HCC progression.
PMID: 36631007
Hepatology · 2023
1.00
2
Copy Number Gains of VPS72 Drive De Novo Lipogenesis and Hepatocarcinogenesis via ATF3/mTORC1/SREBP1 Axis.
PMID: 40305746
Adv Sci (Weinh) · 2025
0.90
3
VPS72/YL1-Mediated H2A.Z Deposition Is Required for Nuclear Reassembly after Mitosis.
PMID: 32708675
Cells · 2020
0.80
4
In Vivo CRISPR Activation Screening Reveals Chromosome 1q Genes VPS72, GBA1, and MRPL9 Drive Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
PMID: 39761726
Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol · 2025
0.70
5
Prognostic marker VPS72 could promote the malignant progression of prostate cancer.
PMID: 38858662
BMC Cancer · 2024
0.60