Coatomer subunit gamma-2

Coatomer subunit gamma-2 (COPG2) is a component of the coatomer complex, a cytosolic protein machinery that mediates intracellular vesicular transport between the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus (UniProt: Q9UBF2). The protein binds dilysine motifs and facilitates retrograde transport of tagged proteins, while also stabilizing Golgi structure and regulating LDL receptor recycling. COPG2 requires ADP-ribosylation factors for membrane recruitment and is essential for proper protein biosynthetic trafficking.

COPG2 is involved in fundamental secretory pathway functions with implications for cellular protein homeostasis. The protein's role in vesicular transport and protein recycling connects it to broad cellular health mechanisms relevant to neurodegenerative disease contexts.

In Alzheimer's Disease, COPG2 shows ambiguous directional change across subcellular fractions in post-mortem AD brain tissue compared to age-matched controls (Chaparral AD proteomics). The mean log2 fold-change is −0.11, indicating minimal overall difference, though the direction varies across the three analyzed fractions. This subtle, inconsistent pattern suggests COPG2 may not be a primary driver of AD pathology, though its vesicular trafficking functions warrant continued investigation in disease-relevant cellular compartments.