TM184C is a GPCR-like regulator of intercellular exchange and autophagy.

TM184C, a conserved GPCR-like protein, regulates intercellular exchange and autophagy by localizing to vesicles and forming intercellular connections in human cells.

• Why it matters: Understanding the functions of many proteins remains limited despite sequence-based annotations, hindering insights into cellular communication and autophagy regulation critical for health and disease.
• What they did: Mining millions of AlphaFold2 models, the study identified TM184C as a GPCR-like protein that localizes to dynamic vesicles, promotes intercellular connections, and influences autophagic flux through conserved mechanisms.
• The result: TM184C's regulation of autophagy and intercellular connectivity reveals ancient, structure-based functions of GPCR-like proteins, opening avenues for targeting cellular communication and autophagy in therapies.