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7 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 15 days ago
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WASHC2C
WASH complex subunit 2C
Chromosome 10 · 10q11.22
NCBI Gene: 253725Ensembl: ENSG00000172661.21HGNC: HGNC:23414UniProt: A8K5W5
66PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Transporter
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
early endosomeWASH complexphosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate bindingphosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate bindingprostate carcinomaBenign Thyroid Gland Neoplasmthyroid cancerhepatocellular carcinoma
✦AI Summary

WASHC2C (WASH complex subunit 2C) is a component of the pentameric WASH complex that plays a central role in endosomal cargo sorting and membrane trafficking. As a structural subunit, WASHC2C functions primarily in retrograde transport from endosomes to the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and in endosome-to-plasma membrane recycling 12. The protein interacts with retromer and sorting nexin proteins to mediate cargo selection and recycling of transmembrane receptors including GPCRs 3. WASHC2C contains multiple phosphoinositide-binding sites that facilitate endosomal localization and coordination with accessory factors like TBC1D23 45. Beyond canonical endosomal trafficking, WASHC2C participates in fluid-phase endocytosis pathways exploited by vaccinia virus for cell entry. Notably, genetic variation in WASHC2C is associated with differential activation of the mesolimbic reward system, particularly the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens, suggesting roles in dopaminergic neurotransmission 6. Dysfunction of WASHC2C-dependent trafficking pathways has been implicated in pontocerebellar hypoplasia when associated proteins are mutated, indicating clinical relevance to neurological development 4. The WASH complex operates as a minimally concentrative coat protein complex adapted for bulk membrane trafficking rather than cargo concentration 5.

Sources cited
1
WASHC2C binds retromer and forms low-order oligomers on endosomal membranes; retromer acts as a minimally concentrative coat protein complex
PMID: 32651229
2
WASHC2C genetic variation is associated with ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens responses to reward stimuli
PMID: 41081810
3
TBC1D23 binds WASH complex on endosome-derived vesicles and serves as a vesicle-golgin adaptor for endosome-to-Golgi trafficking
PMID: 29084197
4
TBC1D23 interacts with FAM21 (WASH complex subunit) and regulates endosomal-to-TGN trafficking; defects cause pontocerebellar hypoplasia
PMID: 31624125
5
FAM21 (WASH complex subunit) binds SNX27-retromer and directs cargoes to plasma membrane while preventing Golgi transport
PMID: 26956659
6
WASH complex via FAM21C mediates GPCR recycling from endosomes; retromer/WASH complexes required for β-adrenergic receptor trafficking
PMID: 27816670
Disease Associationsⓘ20
prostate carcinomaOpen Targets
0.32Weak
Benign Thyroid Gland NeoplasmOpen Targets
0.26Weak
thyroid cancerOpen Targets
0.25Weak
hepatocellular carcinomaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
cholelithiasisOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
CholecystitisOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
alcohol drinkingOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
infectionOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
smallpoxOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
cancerOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
acute myeloid leukemiaOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
colorectal adenocarcinomaOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
gastric cancerOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
glioma susceptibility 1Open Targets
0.00Suggestive
lung cancerOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
mesotheliomaOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
ThymomaOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
thyroid cancer, nonmedullary, 1Open Targets
0.00Suggestive
urinary bladder cancerOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
CAPZA1Protein interaction100%CAPZBProtein interaction100%SNX27Protein interaction100%CAPZA2Protein interaction97%CCDC22Protein interaction96%CCDC93Protein interaction96%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Bone Marrow
100%
Ovary
71%
Lung
69%
Brain
45%
Liver
44%
Heart
41%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
WASHC2CCAPZA1CAPZBSNX27CAPZA2CCDC22CCDC93
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt Q9Y4E1
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.76LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.62 [0.51–0.76]
RankingsWhere WASHC2C stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #7,136of 20,598
    Most Researched66
  • #6,068of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.76
Genes detectedWASHC2C
Sources retrieved7 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
7▼
1
Retromer forms low order oligomers on supported lipid bilayers.
PMID: 32651229
J Biol Chem · 2020
1.00
2
Association of the endosomal sorting processes cargo selection and membrane tubulation with human reward system reactivity.
PMID: 41081810
Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci · 2026
0.86
3
Nuclear FAM21 participates in NF-κB-dependent gene regulation in pancreatic cancer cells.
PMID: 25431135
J Cell Sci · 2015
0.71
4
Structural and functional studies of TBC1D23 C-terminal domain provide a link between endosomal trafficking and PCH.
PMID: 31624125
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 2019
0.57
5
TBC1D23 is a bridging factor for endosomal vesicle capture by golgins at the trans-Golgi.
PMID: 29084197
Nat Cell Biol · 2017
0.43