Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor-associated protein-like 2

GABARAPL2 (gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor-associated protein-like 2) is a ubiquitin-like modifier protein involved in intracellular membrane trafficking and autophagy (UniProt: P60520). It regulates intra-Golgi transport through NSF-SNARE coupling and plays a critical role in autophagosome maturation and mitophagy, the selective degradation of mitochondria that maintains cellular energy balance and limits reactive oxygen species production.

GABARAPL2 is expressed across tissues and participates in fundamental cellular quality-control pathways. UniProt reports no direct disease associations, though autophagy dysfunction is implicated in multiple neurodegenerative conditions.

In Alzheimer's disease, GABARAPL2 is significantly downregulated in post-mortem AD brain tissue compared to age-matched controls (mean log2 fold-change: −0.20, Chaparral AD proteomics). This reduction was detected across subcellular fractions in TMT-labeled mass spectrometry analysis, suggesting impaired autophagy and mitochondrial quality control may contribute to AD pathology.